[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6194372,"mediaKeyId","3864439-d199a194f1f1b07fbf0b021d52217f13","parentId",3864439,"title","County withdraws permit, halts private fiber work while easement rights are researched","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2272000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864439-d199a194f1f1b07fbf0b021d52217f13&start=2272&end=2272","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864439-d199a194f1f1b07fbf0b021d52217f13/thumbnail_2272000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6194372/Adams-County/Indiana/County-withdraws-permit-halts-private-fiber-work-while-easement-rights-are-researched","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6194372-57ae0eb32e50ab5f001164d266b2eed4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773684956&Signature=Un4UOgPqeqIpIl0ngC21Lj39mkWQZosIqFHEjoGkpbr9MESXAymbEWkpLc~3bFu22tEOsJr8ZGB8MU6jqhzmZPlE-YSVWhNDFP2U7ZVYx97Yc5CRrwZSHlxggqhCb3YShyJoVc-58zayhNJ4aE3p3vPbG~HKc~lyc30Ugyf7ck-VxCHZ3BcdgQnCv3twoxQ5oaHriNz9xtzD4QI2HbVS~Lmgi740o57c0Af-5vunQVqbIMJDeAcvo30ue4ZbvzyYFduXhkg9~zrS~V9SEsxv8XmAAhjJwZqjxCVqSgvgDQvgKvBHGEP1Qb8T6ToEKsBHzGPRawQHvOU6KGllT7bFOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Adams County IN","date","2025-06-18T03:19:19Z","article","Adams County commissioners told a private company to stop work on a fiber line that crossed county roads and withdrew the county permit while staff investigate whether the county has the easement authority to allow the installation. County officials said the contractor will need to determine whether it will proceed by working with individual landowners and that the county is not acting as an intermediary between the company and private property owners.

“We told them to stop,” a county staff member said during the meeting when asked about the status of the project. Meeting participants described the action as a withdrawal of the county-issued permit and said the firm has been informed that any future work will depend on how the company chooses to proceed.

Several members of the public asked about notification and future status. Steve Miller, a Winchester property owner who spoke during public comment, asked whether property owners would be notified if the permit status changed and whether the company would contact owners individually. County staff said the project is currently stopped and that future contact would be between the company and property owners if the company elects to pursue private easements.

County staff and the sheriff described two distinct issues behind the decision: (1) the legal status of the county right-of-way on the stretch of Winchester Road involved, including a historical determination dating to the 1800s; and (2) whether the specific private line constitutes a public utility the county should allow in its right-of-way, or whether it is a private, profit-driven line that would not serve local customers. Staff said the county’s review of handwritten historical road records is ongoing and that there is no deadline for completing that research.

Officials acknowledged this situation raises questions about how the county should treat private lines that traverse county roads versus utilities that serve county residents. The sheriff requested a more formal process for permitting use of courthouse grounds and county property, and the commissioners said they would prepare clearer procedures and ask the county attorney to draft guidance where appropriate.

No new permit was issued at the meeting; staff said the firm would need to decide whether to obtain individual landowner agreements or to propose an alternative route and then return to the county for permission if necessary. County staff said they will continue to research the historic right-of-way documentation and will not reissue the permit until the legal status is clarified.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Commissioners Meeting 6/17/25","oneSentenceSummary","Adams County told a private broadband firm to stop work and withdrew the county-issued permit after questions surfaced about historic right‑of‑way and easement rights along Winchester Road; county staff said further action depends on the contractor and on research into handwritten county records.","taxTitle","Adams County, Indiana","taxId",70750,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6194376,"Adams County approves $15,000 consultant agreement, hears updates on culvert and guardrail projects",620,891000,1511000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864439-d199a194f1f1b07fbf0b021d52217f13&start=891&end=1511","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864439-d199a194f1f1b07fbf0b021d52217f13/thumbnail_891000.jpg","/articles/6194376/Adams-County/Indiana/Adams-County-approves-15000-consultant-agreement-hears-updates-on-culvert-and-guardrail-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6194376-bc76e522ce04c1c9c28e3727ec1c4c97/orig.mp4?Expires=1773684956&Signature=S-2-LPnrITg0ND~VloIyNH7imkooaRwosyJA2hDflz2k4OVTa~wA3~A95XQuawRSH~CBZLJ62K8EqYWXxMO94RHfJUrPn1~i6BdvaXIwbYUUMc-wG8ojW1eX-rXgfNYoDNk6~wGelcW0TSSRE712~Ag5h2Z5-aG~WQ3CGB7CywpFQ40zen1xwpT7i6VA0VyF9U-QSIdgOchtBMCzsh-LwhiGUekuTvK-p0y8RElGC3v40BZ0G9CdLEsbfDtXxy7cZvioIMvdSqPGgANhEVPhQgr1kP6nBz7rSzv-D7BZLnTDNT4DWcTDv86vCsXO9KODaJS0yxEnF7yWv3eUvkICLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Adams County commissioners approved a consulting agreement with engineering firm HWC not to exceed $15,000 to develop plans for a locally funded deck-overlay rehabilitation after a federal grant request was unsuccessful, and they signed the county’s annual covered-bridge certification for submission to the state comptroller. County highway staff also updated the board on progress and schedule changes for Culvert 134 and on a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) guardrail contract expected to be paid by reimbursement grant.

The agreement with HWC covers consulting and plan work only; it does not pay for construction. “The total from this agreement is an hourly not to exceed $15,000,” county highway staff said during the meeting. The firm’s headquarters is in Indianapolis; staff said HWC will collaborate with county staff on plans and that the final consulting cost may be less than the limit.

The consulting agreement was recommended after staff said federal funding applications for the bridge project were not successful and the county intends to proceed with local funding. Commissioners moved and seconded the contract approval and the motion carried.

The county also approved and signed the annual covered-bridge certification form for submission to the state comptroller’s office.

On culvert work, staff reported that Ish Excavating is replacing Culvert 134 on County Road 650 southwest of 200 East but that weather and complications tracing tile and legal county tile connections have delayed work about a day. The road was closed during much of the work; staff said the gravel surface has been restored so emergency vehicles can pass and crews still need to pour a concrete box/drop structure on the southwest side of the road later in the week.

Regarding guardrail work tied to HSIP federal funds, staff said they submitted a request for federal funds and plan to begin work when the new fiscal year opens. “That is a reimbursement grant,” staff said. “On that 90% of that money would be reimbursed after I prove we paid it.” The county’s current approach is to pay for the phase and file for reimbursement; staff said reimbursements typically take weeks to a month after submission.

Weights-and-measures inspector Dan Hackman presented his monthly and annual reports, which commissioners accepted. Hackman said noncompliance is rare and usually resolved after a follow-up inspection: “Very rarely. They weren’t stable,” he said when asked how often issues arise. His annual totals included about 1,002 checks with 26 rejections and eight red tags that required scale shutdowns during the year.

County staff said they will continue to seek project funding (including an option to pursue commuting/competitive grant funds) and will bring final plans and budget requests to the commissioners as projects move from design to construction.

Less urgent routine items — payroll claims, animal-control and treasurer reports, and subdivision approvals — were also recorded in the minutes during the meeting.","County highway staff won approval for a consultant agreement for a locally funded deck-overlay bridge project, certified a covered bridge for the state comptroller, and reported delays and timelines for a culvert replacement and a federally funded guardrail project that will be paid by reimbursement grant.","actionData","errors"]

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County withdraws permit, halts private fiber work while easement rights are researched

Adams County approves $15,000 consultant agreement, hears updates on culvert and guardrail projects