County Highway staff prioritizes Community Crossing Grant road work despite staffing challenges

During the Owen County Commissioner meeting on July 3, 2025, officials addressed ongoing road maintenance challenges and the progress of infrastructure projects. The meeting highlighted the county's commitment to improving road conditions while managing limited resources.

Commissioner Norm discussed the current staffing situation, noting that the county highway department is down to 13 employees. This reduction has posed challenges in maintaining and upgrading the county's roadways. Despite these difficulties, he emphasized that the team is making incremental progress each day.

A significant focus of the discussion was on the Community Crossings Matching Grant (CCMG) program, which requires specific road improvements to be completed within a set timeframe. Commissioner Norm outlined the necessary steps for these projects, including ditching, installing culverts, and tree removal. He stressed the importance of completing these tasks correctly rather than hastily, stating, "If we're gonna do it, we're gonna do it right or we're not gonna do it at all."

Concerns from the public regarding the lack of stone purchases for road repairs were addressed. Commissioner Norm explained that the county currently has over a million and a half tons of stone and gravel available from previous projects. He indicated that spreading additional stone on roads that are not adequately prepared would be an unwise use of taxpayer funds.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to prioritize the CCMG roads while acknowledging the limitations of the current workforce. The commissioners expressed appreciation for the ongoing efforts of the highway department and reiterated their dedication to improving the county's infrastructure responsibly. As the county moves forward, residents can expect continued updates on road maintenance and improvements as projects progress under the grant program.