Highway work flourishes in hot, dry weather

Almost no one would describe Central Indiana weather so far in 2022 as ideal.

A too-wet spring soon became a too-dry June. And as summer has worn on, even the rain that comes is in the form of violent, quick-hitting storms.

Yet the warm, usually dry summer has been suitable for road work.

That’s how Highway Director Clint Maddox described it when detailing work from the Putnam County Highway Department for the Commissioners on Monday.

Maddox, appearing in place of County Engineer Jim Peck, noted that road crews are moving right along through the agenda of road work for the year.

He noted that single-layer chip and seal work is complete, while roads undergoing the grind and double chip and seal process are about half done.

County crews will also be fully repaving two roads this year — County Road 1200 South at Cloverdale and 775 West in Washington Township.

Maddox added that contractor Milestone was set to begin doing Community Crossings work either this week or next, likely beginning on Crowe’s Bridge Road before proceeding to Heritage Drive.

He said that when Milestone is performing its work, the full width of the roads will be paved in a single pass, requiring their closure. The one exception will be Heritage Drive, which will be done in two passes to allow for traffic.

Maddox also said there are two mowers and a patching crew out every day.

“We’re trying to diversify a little bit and keep the mowing down,” Maddox said.

In other business:

• Maddox noted that Bridge 276 on Saddle Club Road over CSX Railroad is still standing. The project has been subject to one long delay after another, almost all attributed to the railroad company.

He said that someone — it’s unclear whether it will be a representative of White Construction or CSX — will be present at the next Commissioners meeting on Aug. 15 to give an update.

Either way, the work will clearly not be completed in September, as was originally planned.

• The Commissioners approved a new development plan review procedure for major subdivisions, commercial projects and industrial projects.

While a number of procedures were set forth for such occasions, most notable are the associated fees. As originally proposed by the County Plan Commission, the Commissioners believed they were too high.

On Monday, County Planner Lisa Zeiner presented the following base application fee schedule:

$250 for major subdivisions,

$350 for commercial projects,

$450 for industrial projects.

Additionally, the engineering review fee will be $230 per hour.

The development plan review standards should give more structure to the current zoning ordinance. Some version of the rules are also certain to be part of the new zoning ordinance the county is currently developing.

• The Plan Commission is currently short one member, as chairman Wendell Underwood recently resigned.

Some names have been suggested as a replacement, but the Commissioners would like to wait until their next meeting to make an appointment. Commissioner President Rick Woodall was not present with fellow Commissioners Tom Helmer and David Berry on Monday.

Zeiner noted that no Plan Commission meeting is scheduled for August, giving the Commissioners more time to make an appointment.