Allen County Commissioners on June 27 approved a series of highway and right‑of‑way actions presented by the Allen County Highway Department.

Bill Hartman, of the Highway Department, briefed the board on a range of construction items. Commissioners approved change order No. 1 for the Madden Road small‑structure replacement over the Clark Chapman drain, increasing the contract by $32,472.23 and accepting final payment to API Construction Corp. with a final project amount of $251,827.23.

Hartman described differing site conditions as drivers of cost increases: "We hit some bad soils and that, the bad soils in there alone, with geotextile and number 2, limestone. Number 1, limestone that was put in for bedding. That was $22,000 the extra. And, the old structure was a little bit larger than what we expected, when we got into the foundations. And, that, resulted in about, dollars 12,000 of additional backfill," he said.

The board also approved a $79,831.25 change order for removal and replacement of underground storage tanks at the county north and south barns. Hartman said excavation encountered collapsing sidewalls and contaminated material that required additional hauling and disposal and substitution of stronger backfill and concrete mix to support heavy vehicles.

Other approvals included amendment No. 3 to split the Union Chapel Road trail into two phases with a $12,035 increase to revise bid quantities and plans so construction can proceed this year; right‑of‑way services not to exceed $124,370 for acquisition of about 13 parcels on Indianapolis Road/Coverdale Road/Winters Road to support a roundabout project (the county expects an INDOT contract to reimburse 80% of costs); and a maintenance/mitigation agreement for Pecocchio/Patoka Woods with Heartland Restoration Services not to exceed $24,860 for tree replanting and two years of maintenance.

The board also approved several easements and right‑of‑way warranty deeds related to the Monroeville/Wayne Trace intersection project and authorized an easement for NIPSCO gas facilities at the Allen County Justice Center property to allow utility lines needed for future heating and construction activities.

All items were approved by voice vote.