County moves forward with Dunbar Bridge project

Having been rejected for funding in the last cycle, Putnam County will move forward paying for engineering and land acquisition in hopes of securing federal funding for a Dunbar Bridge bypass.

Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

After being rejected for a federal aid project on Dunbar Bridge earlier this year, the Putnam County Highway Department is taking a new approach.

In the midst of deciding on federal funding this spring, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) asked localities to consider fully funding the engineering and right-of-way acquisition for the projects.

The Putnam County Commissioners balked at this, moving forward with the application in asking for federal funds for 80 percent of the entire project, including construction, engineering and right-of-way acquisition.

INDOT, which cited inflated costs as the reason for the request, did not fund the Dunbar project.

With this in mind, during a recent special meeting with County Engineer Jim Peck, commissioners Tom Helmer and David Berry voted to pay for the engineering and right-of-way acquisition up front, while pressing forward with applying for 80-percent federal aid on construction. Commissioner Rick Woodall was absent from the special session.

Construction will be by far the biggest portion of what was estimated last winter to be a $6.8 million project to restore the 143-year-old bridge and bypass it at a point just downstream on Big Walnut Creek.

On Monday during their regular session, the commissioners signed off on an agreement with United Consulting to do the engineering on the project of $633,735. Peck also presented an estimate that right-of-way acquisition will cost $106,000.

With a total project estimate of $6,755,750, this means the county will be applying for federal aid to pay for 80 percent of the remaining $6,015,750.

Peck said the application for funding, which would not come until fiscal year 2029, will be due in November or December, with a decision made in March 2024.

He also said that right-of-way acquisition is likely two years away.

Peck also said that Community Crossings work on County Road 1050 South was probably two weeks from starting, and that the $1 million in state funding for the project should be deposited soon.

He added that the time was approaching to figure out what projects the county will apply for Community Crossings funds in 2024, with funding likely available for 9.5 miles of resurfacing.

In other business:

• In a project spearheaded by Commissioner Helmer, the county will be donating chainsaws to each of the 11 fire departments in the county.

Helmer noted the great help the fire departments are in clearing roadways following storms and his desire to make sure they had the right equipment to do so.

Having received bids from Humphreys Outdoor Power, JTN Outdoor Power Equipment and Keener’s Mower Sales and Rentals — all local dealers — the commissioners ultimately went with JTN’s low bid of $3,574.89 for 11 ECHO chainsaws.

• Helmer also noted that the county had taken possession of a 12-year-old X-ray machine for use in courthouse security.

The machine was donated by Hamilton County, which no longer uses the unit.

Helmer, Berry and Woodall were joined at the meeting by County Attorney Jim Ensley and Deputy Auditor Evelyn Williams.