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Owen County delays paving until ditching, culverts and tree work are done; advertising approved for community‑crossing projects
Summary
Commissioners authorized advertising for a package of community-crossing paving projects but emphasized that roads will not be paved until drainage (ditches and culverts) and tree trimming are completed; the board accepted project timelines and asked highway staff for culvert cost estimates.
The Owen County Board of Commissioners authorized advertising a bid package for a set of community-crossing paving projects but commissioners and highway staff said no paving will proceed until necessary drainage improvements — ditching, culvert installation and tree cutting — are completed.
Highway Department staff presented a bid package covering roughly a dozen road segments, including Pleasant View Road (two sections), Kelly Road (from 246 to Denmark Road), Hollybrook Road and several others. Work shown in the packet must not begin before June 2 and must be completed by Aug. 31, per the advertised schedule.
Commissioners pressed department staff for details on culvert counts and costs. The highway presentation included culvert estimates for some roads: Class Road (20 driveway culverts and 4 road culverts), Kelly Road (11 driveway culverts) and Pleasant View Road (21 driveway/AG culverts and 2 road culverts). Commissioners noted that culvert and ditch work is a precondition for paving to prevent premature road failure.
The board instructed staff to compile detailed culvert sizing and cost estimates (lengths and diameters vary by location) and to present those per-road cost figures to the commissioners so they can decide whether to use county reserves (the county’s EDIT fund was mentioned as a possible source) or other funding.
Why it matters: Advertising the paving package moves the projects into procurement, but county leaders insist drainage work must precede paving to protect the county’s investment and avoid recurring repairs. The county’s timeline requires rapid procurement and field work ahead of the August completion date.
Key operational details and county direction: - Bid advertising approved for community-crossing paving projects (start no earlier than June 2; completion by Aug. 31). - Highway staff to provide a detailed per-road culvert inventory and cost estimates (diameter and length by location) so commissioners can evaluate funding options. - Commissioners said they will not support paving projects until ditches are recut, culverts installed and trees trimmed within the county right-of-way.
Direct quote from highway discussion: "When we get on Hollybrook Road, it's going to need significant culvert work... long and short of it, we're ready to start those ditching projects," (Greg, Highway Department). A separate commissioner warned, "I'm not paving any roads. I will not support paving any roads... until the culverts and the trees are cut and the ditches are done."
