Henry County leaders weigh shifting road, culvert and bridge funds as three roads remain closed

Henry County officials and staff met in a joint work session to review the county’s transportation budget and short-term options for reopening three roads closed because of failing culverts and small structures.

County council member Chad (role/affiliation noted in meeting) opened the discussion by placing the county general and highway budgets in context and noting the council’s ability to use a reclassification fund. Highway staff member Joe reported that “the 3 culverts, he's getting quotes on” and that suppliers in the state are limited: “Right now, we only know of 2 suppliers in the state of Indiana.”

Why it matters: the three closures are causing immediate access issues for residents and could force the county to shift planned paving dollars to emergency culvert replacement. Joe described a likely material and scheduling lag: one supplier told staff they were “6 to 8 weeks out on rebar alone,” and once materials arrive the precast concrete boxes must be made, cured and hauled into place.

Officials reviewed potential funding sources. The council confirmed a reclassification fund balance in the general fund and a “sick pay compensation” line of about $135,000 in the council budget. Highway staff and council members discussed moving money within highway-restricted accounts: one option Braden (highway staff) reportedly is considering would shift “maybe a half a million dollars out of road paving” toward culvert work. A restricted “Cume Bridge” (bridge) fund was cited repeatedly; council members noted a current balance in that account of approximately $464,000, though that balance may already reflect recent bridge work and unbilled projects.

Officials also discussed federal and state aid possibilities. Joe said he has applied for federal Community Crossings and other federal bridge programs; a project funded earlier this year — bridge 162 — is “in design.” The county has been awarded $1.5 million from the Community Crossings program for chip seal work; staff estimated total chip-seal costs near $2.2 million and said the state award would cover roughly $1.5 million of the construction if bids come in near estimates. Participants warned that state-level changes to Community Crossings funding could affect future planning.

Costs and timing: staff estimated material costs for each culvert at under $50,000 for the box material alone, with total repairs ranging from “tens of thousands” up to “hundreds of thousands” per site depending on scope. Joe said the earliest culvert installations would likely arrive in June or July if ordered promptly, but that scheduling, delivery and installation could push work later into the season.

Staff and officials emphasized the distinction between available cash and project timing: “It’s not because we don't have the money. It's because we're waiting on culverts,” Joe said, summarizing the operational constraint.

Next steps: county staff agreed to seek second supplier quotes, confirm which restricted highway accounts can legally be used for the culvert work, and present options to the full council. Commissioners and council members said they prefer using restricted bridge and highway funds for one-time repairs where possible, while preserving long-term reserves for larger bridge projects and inspection reimbursements.

Ending: Officials said they expect to pursue a combination of supplier quotes, reallocation of restricted balances and state or federal grant matches to reopen the roads; they repeatedly noted the schedule for materials and installation will determine when closures can be lifted. “No permanent road closures is the plan,” one council member said as the session closed.