Bike race won’t include Pinhook Bridge
Three bridges — one beyond saving, another closed for two years and a third about to be rehabbed — had the attention of the Putnam County Commissioners on Monday.
With ongoing questions about the viability of crossing Pinhook Bridge in an upcoming bicycle race, the county finally gave organizers a definitive “no.”
The bridge has been closed to automobile traffic since 2006, but recently came back on the Commissioners’ radar when cyclist and organizer Marc O’Leary came to the county with the proposal of the Dust Bowl Bike Race, set for July 24.
The big question was whether or not the race could cross the 110-year-old bridge on County Road 125 North over Big Walnut Creek.
Unfortunately, the cost of getting USI, which inspects bridges for the county, to answer such a question is a bit too high.
“Once they started researching, it’s been closed since ‘06,” Highway Supervisor Mike Ricketts said. “It would be $10,000-$20,000 for them to inspect. It’s not suitable for anything.”
“Then why is it still there?” Commissioner Rick Woodall asked.
“Because we can’t afford to take it out,” Ricketts countered.
Commissioner Tom Helmer noted that a USI representative had said the bridge could checked out as part of the county’s normal inspections. Ricketts said, though, that the bridge hasn’t been inspected since it was closed, meaning a routine look over would not do.
“Since it’s been closed that long, it hasn’t had the full inspections that the other bridges have had,” Ricketts said.
Fortunately, O’Leary was prepared for the possibility and already has another route proposed.
The Dust Bowl race will start and end in Eminence, but all but a few miles of the race will take place in Putnam County.
Regarding another closed bridge, the Commissioners gave approval to putting a gate across County Road 500 East in southern Floyd Township.
The road dead ends at Bridge 71, which was closed in early 2019. The southern section of the road should only get traffic from farmers, but an area landowner has noticed cars parking down the now-desolate road and the occupants partaking in elicit activities.
As such, he requested permission to place a gate at the south end of the road, with keys only given to the Putnam County Highway Department and nearby landowners.
The county will not be liable for the gate if it gets damaged.
Finally, Ricketts announced that Bridge 172 on Poland Road in Washington Township will be closed beginning on June 7 for the bridge to be rehabilitated.
Ricketts said the bridge will remain closed for up to 70 days.
In other business, the Commissioners:
• Approved an ordinance to create a fund for American Rescue Plan money.
The county is still unclear on the uses of the money, but continue to research, as the county will get around $7 million.
“I am getting a clearer picture of things this can and cannot be used for,” Woodall said. “This is not money that’s going to be spent quickly.”
The county has until the end of 2024 to allocate the money and until 2026 to actually complete any projects.
• Heard from Treasurer Tracy Bridges regarding the county’s microfilm at the Indiana State Archives.
The question is whether the county would like to turn over ownership of the microfilm to the state or maintain county ownership.
If the film is turned over, it could be destroyed at some point in the future. If not, there is a possibility that at some point the county could have to take the film back and provide a place to store it.
The state does not currently have a plan to enact either course of action.
Furthermore, the county has digital versions of all the microfilmed documents.
No decision was made and the county has until June 30 to decide.
• Approved a $200,000 road use agreement with the Wabash Valley Power Alliance.
WVPA has been working on a project for Hendricks Power to install large, metal power poles that are running from Hendricks County to the Heritage Lake area.
In doing the work, roads from northeast of New Maysville to Heritage Lake have or will be damaged by the trucks.
The money is to help the county with repair of the roads.
• Heard that the CSX Railroad Crossing north of Fillmore will be closed on May 24 and 25.
• Appointed David Heavin to the Cemetery Board position previously occupied by Steve Fenwick.
The next meeting of the Putnam County Commissioners is set for Monday, June 7 at 9 a.m. at the Putnam County Courthouse.