Owen County commissioners delay paving, prioritize ditching and culverts amid tight highway budget

Owen County commissioners said Monday they will stop routine paving on county roads until crews complete ditching, culvert repairs and tree clearing that officials said are causing asphalt to wash away.

The county’s highway account is under pressure, commissioners said, and crews have been using existing gravel and reclaimed material where possible instead of buying new stone. The commissioners said Community Crossings (CCMG) roads must be prepared correctly and remain on their scheduled paving windows, but they will not start additional paving projects until drainage and right-of-way issues are addressed.

Why it matters: County leaders said putting stone on poorly drained roads wastes taxpayer dollars because the gravel washes off and must be replaced. Commissioners described a yearlong budget domino effect that has left several highway funds low and prompted temporary layoffs in the highway department.

Details: County staff and commissioners described several cost-control steps: prioritizing ditching and culvert installation before paving, using on-site material recovered from roadside washouts, limiting purchases of new stone, and scheduling CCMG roads for later in the year when preparatory work can be completed. Highway superintendent Greg Colton and county staff told commissioners they would focus available labor on ditching and culverts and use graders and excavators for more permanent repairs rather than short-term surface fixes.

Commissioners also directed county staff to continue biweekly updates on highway finances and condition so the public can see how limited funds are being used. Officials said emergency repairs will still be made but that planned paving will wait until drainage improvements are complete.

What’s next: Commissioners and highway staff said they will evaluate outcomes after preparatory work is complete and will proceed with paving only once culverts and ditches are restored to standard; they emphasized that community-crossing grant roads must be done “right the first time” to avoid repeat costs.

Ending: County officials asked residents to be patient while crews prioritize long-term repairs over quick surface fixes. The county will continue to publish progress reports as work proceeds.