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West Walnut Street project set to begin
GREENCASTLE -- Putnam County commissioners Jim Baird and Gene Beck heard Monday that the W. Walnut Street project would begin Oct. 8.
"The signs are going up now," said Jim Smith with the Putnam County Highway Department. "There won't be any detours for the road because all the roads around are gravel."
The unfortunate news is that the road will be closed just before the start of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. W. Walnut Street is a favorite back route to the Mansfield and Bridgeton festival sites.
Work on the road will begin on the west end of Walnut Street near County Line Rd and come east toward Greencastle. The road will be closed during the entire 10-day festival and beyond.
A contract with Cinergy Metronet regarding the phone system for the courthouse was tabled until Emergency Operations Center Manger Dave Costin could talk with them about an automatic renewal clause and attorney fees.
County Attorney Scott Hoff told commissioners he felt the attorney fees in the contract were more extreme than he likes to see.
Costin also asked for an amendment in their policy manual regarding sensitive law enforcement data that is stored on the computer system at the EOC.
"We just want to safeguard the information so no one but police and law enforcement can view it. I have access because I take care of the computers," said Costin. The files contain sensitive material from cases and persons under investigation by law enforcement.
He also received permission to move two high-band radios from a building in poor condition to the EOC. Costin told commissioners Greencastle Mayor Sue Murray was planning on giving written approval Tuesday.
The Hoosier State Paranormal group asked permission to conduct an investigation and do research on the Putnam County Home. The group has done several investigations of homes and buildings with purported paranormal activity.
Commissioners tabled the request until the next meeting while they check the county's insurance liability.
Some discussion took place regarding the paving of a section of road from the dam spillway to Betsy Ross at Heritage Lake by Clear Creek. The project was paid for by the Heritage Lake Conservancy. Kathy Deer presented commissioners with a bill of $930 for 65 feet that was paved and asked if the county would pay the bill.
"Why didn't Clear Creek contact us or the highway department before they did the work," questioned Commissioner Gene Beck. "We don't have any idea how much stone or paving went on the road."
Commissioners say they do not have a copy of the blue prints of the job but did acknowledge that Clear Creek representatives appeared before the board with information earlier.
Deer stated that she believed blue prints were presented at that earlier meeting. Commissioners asked to be given blue prints and the details about the rock and paving materials. Deer agreed to ask Clear Creek to provide them.
The next meeting of the Putnam County Commission will be held on Oct. 5 at 9 a.m. at the Putnam County Museum.