Ricketts to serve as lone county highway supervisor

Following more than three months in which he has been the only Putnam County Highway supervisor, Mike Ricketts' title will now reflect his duties.

The Putnam County Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to name Ricketts the lone county highway supervisor, removing the "co" prefix from the title.

It is a promotion consistent with Ricketts' role since late June, at which time he became the only supervisor, with the suspension and eventual demotion of co-supervisor Jim Smith.

The commissioners said the promotion is a reflection not only on the job Ricketts and the department have done, but on what they feel is simply good management practice.

Commissioner president Don Walton praised the department in general on the work being done on the roads, as well as Ricketts' leadership recently.

"Mike's doing a real good job and he still has the foremen under him," Walton said. "I think one supervisor is the way to go."

Vice president David Berry agreed about having a single supervisor.

"It seems like it simplifies and streamlines the work details and decision making," Berry said. "You have one person the employees and the county can look to and then he can delegate to his foremen.

"It's just easier to work for one boss than it is two."

The department has operated with co-supervisors since June 2009, when Smith and Clint Maddox began sharing the duties.

When Maddox resigned in early May, Ricketts was named interim co-supervisor, with the interim tag removed in July.

Ricketts expressed a positive attitude about what is happening in his department, praising the employees and saying things have been generally productive.

"I hope I can make a difference," he said. "I have high hopes for the county and I care.

"I think were heading in the right direction. It seems pretty promising."

Besides Ricketts' promotion, Monday's meeting also included a number of discussions of highway-related items.

The commissioners learned that striping is now done on Manhattan Road and the Bainbridge-Roachdale Road. Also complete is resurfacing work on Belle Union Road.

Walton praised the department's work on such resurfacing and paving jobs, telling the Banner Graphic that many projects have been done in house rather than contracted out. He said this has saved the county money.

"The highway department is doing a great job pugging (resurfacing) the roads," Walton said. "It's something we haven't had to hire out over the years."

One large job that was hired out was also discussed. Ricketts said Wabash Valley Asphalt has nearly completed work on Edgelea subdivision, with only a few small casting adjustments remaining on the repaving and drainage project.

Work is also ongoing at the Houck Covered Bridge site over Big Walnut Creek on County Road 550 South. The covered bridge is being bypassed but will remain in place as a walking bridge.

Ricketts reported that the next area of focus for the department will be County Road 725 East between Groveland and Heritage Lake. As the busiest stretch of road cared for by the county, the road will be improved through a federal aid project in 2014.

In advance of this work, the highway department will replace a number of pipes that run underneath the road. Ricketts plans to begin the work next week and hopes to have two crews working in the area at a time to get the project done in two weeks.

During the work, the plan is to have the road closed during the workday, but not to affect school buses in the morning or evening.

Near the conclusion of the meeting, a resident complimented the county for the work done on fixing his road.

Gene Milner, who lives on County Road 25 East north of Big Walnut Creek, publicly thanked the late commissioner Nancy Fogle, the current commissioners and the highway department for improvements to the road.

Formerly a gravel road, 25 East has been paved from Bridge 146 to County Road 200 North.

"It's wider. It's safer. It's not dusty," Milner said. "It'll be much safer for all of us."

Milner had previously asked for the improvements to the road with the upcoming closure and replacement of Crowe's Bridge in 2014. The crossing on County Road 25 East is likely to see more traffic with the closure.

Besides the paving north of the bridge, Ricketts told the Banner Graphic that Houck Road (as it is known south of the bridge) is due for repaving in 2014 from the bridge into Greencastle.