Work will begin on the overhead bridge in Montgomery on March 15, according to County Highway Superintendent Chris Winkler. In his report to the Daviess County Commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting, Winkler said workers will be on site on Thursday, but the bridge will not be permanently closed for a few weeks yet. Winkler said the completion time for the new bridge remains at 8 months. In other county road matters, the County Commissioners agreed to move ahead and take over old U.S. 50 from Washington’s west city limits to the West Fork of the White River. The state has offered the county approximately $2.5 million to pay for bridge and right-of-way improvements if the county agrees to take over the road. The County Commissioner is concerned about the intersection of Old 50 and CR 150 W, which has become one of the county’s most dangerous intersections.
The commissioners also agreed to a contract to inspect all the bridges in the county in June.
In other business, the Commissioners agreed to transfer part of the old County Farm grounds to the Airport Board for runway expansion. The Commissioners also approved an ordinance that organizes the finances of the Daviess County Visitors Bureau in line with suggestions from the State Board of Accounts. The Commissioners also heard a report from Joe Morris outlining the growth of the Visitors Bureau and its growing impact on bringing more visitors into Daviess County. The Commissioners also approved the appointment of Boggs Park Superintendent Nathan Rehm to the Visitors Bureau Board.
The Commissioners also agreed to provide $50,000 from economic development funds to help the Daviess County YMCA with its drive to repair the Y’s pool’s heat recovery system. The Y’s pool is the only indoor facility in the county and is used by residents from all areas of the county.
The commissioners also learned that a power surge had damaged the controls for the heating and cooling system at the government center. The commissioners were told it would take $7,000 to $10,000 to replace the controls.
