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County developing plan for aging bridges
Plan now or close bridges later.
That is the warning of County Engineer Jim Peck to other county officials in urging them to move forward with a plan for aging county bridges.
On Tuesday, Peck was requesting that the county sign an on-call contract with United Consulting to do engineering work on bridges that may be eligible for federal funding.
The money for the expenditure would be taken from $25,000 in funds budgeted for bridge work in 2022.
The timing is tight, as the deadline to apply for federal aid is in November.
Even then, Peck noted, approved projects won’t be funded until fiscal year 2026, meaning construction in 2027 at the earliest.
Taking inventory of county bridges has been high on Peck’s task list since he took over the Putnam County Highway Department, and he has found the status of the bridge inventory to be lacking.
“If we don’t do this, we’re never going to get ahead,” Peck said. “Right now, we’ve got 51 bridges that need to be replaced. Five years from now, realistically, we are going to be closing bridges if we don’t do this.”
Commissioner David Berry was quickly on board with the plan, noting that successful applications would mean millions of dollars in federal aid, and failing to act now would mean delaying work yet another year into the future.
Though initially asking for more information, Commissioner Rick Woodall seconded Berry’s motion, with the measure passing 2-0. Commissioner Tom Helmer was absent Monday.
Peck has already started to plan for the expenditures on the future projects, as the county will have a local match portion of the federal aid projects to meet. However, Peck’s method of figuring the cost of bridges – with annual inflation estimated – troubled County Councilman Dave Fuhrman, also in attendance Monday.
Fuhrman noted that the Council works year to year, not several years in advance, so planning for inflation could cause future headaches, as well as limiting the number of bridges on which the county can work.
Berry countered, though, that not planning for inflation would also cause problems later.
Ultimately, Peck’s goal is to begin creating a warchest for funding the bridges, a matter he plans to meet with the Commissioners and Council to formulate.
In another highway funding issue, Peck and the Commissioners are examining the purchase of a new tractor and mower to help with county roadsides.
While roadside mowing has received increased attention under the leadership of Peck and Highway Director Clint Maddox, Peck said a new tractor with a side boom mower would be of great help.
Peck initially received three quotes for such machines, but all would be delivered between March and May of 2023.
However, one tractor was found for sale in Ohio that can be purchased now, and the Commissioners are hoping to utilize $175,000 from the Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) Warchest to make the purchase.
County Attorney Jim Ensley noted that there is not enough remaining in the 2022 EDIT Warchest to make the purchase, but the Commissioners could dip into Warchest funds left over from previous years.
Such a move will require County Council approval, however.
Before going to the Council, though, the full body of the Commissioners will consider if they want to purchase the tractor and if they want to do so outright or via lease. These considerations will be made during the Monday, Sept. 19 meeting.
The issue of mowing is one that’s on the mind of some area residents, as a resident of County Road 375 South in the Mount Meridian area was in attendance Tuesday to report the high weeds as an issue at his house.
Damon Fritzinger said the weeds are high enough that he’s nearly been hit pulling out of his driveway because he can’t see around the corner of the road. He said he had complained at the Highway Department twice about it.
Peck took his name and address and said he would see that it was addressed.
In other business:
• Peck reported that the demolition of Bridge 276 over the CSX railroad is proceeding, though only piece by piece, per the railroad company’s requirements.
Additionally, the crane being used for the work recently broke down, forcing a delay as parts were shipped from Germany.
“We’re probably still another month out from having that torn down,” Peck said.
The project — including having a new bridge built — was originally slated to be completed this month before several months of delay from CSX.
At last report, next spring was the earliest anticipated completion.
• Peck also noted the results of traffic counts on County Road 275 East between 100 North and 200 North.
Residents of the gravel road in northeastern Greencastle Township have requested that the road be paved via chip and seal.
Though the Commissioners have noted their reticence to pave any new roads, they asked Peck to conduct the study to consider the need.
Peck noted that at its peak, the road had 97 vehicles in a day, which in his estimation did not merit the move.
The residents were told last month that they could pool their own money to pay for paving, similar to a project happening in Jefferson Township this year.
• The Commissioners voted to grant Beyond Homeless Inc. $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The homeless shelter had originally requested $150,000. After reviewing the proposal, Berry recommended funding at the $100,000 level, and Woodall agreed.
The funding will be split over this year and next.
• DLZ Engineering has recently completed a space study looking at the buildings the county currently occupies compared to current and future needs.
While no results were shared at the meeting, the Commissioners are hoping to have a special joint meeting with the Council to review the study and assess the county’s needs, which could include a possible courthouse annex.
On the annex subject, there are three parties interested in buying part or all of the Jones School property, formerly home of the annex. Two are apparently interested in keeping the walls of the old school in place and turning the building into housing. The third is more interested in the land than the building.
Before the county can act on any of these possibilities, two new appraisals of the property will have to be performed.
The Putnam County Commissioners will next meet at 9 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 19 on the first floor of the Putnam County Courthouse.