Marshall County commissioners approve bridge closeout, authorize council review of $122,000 equipment purchase and $2M Community Crossings application

Marshall County Commissioners on Jan. 6 approved final closeout paperwork for Bridge No. 11 and voted to forward two major highway funding and procurement proposals to the county council for consideration.

The panel unanimously approved signing off on the bridge 11 final inspection so the project can be closed out. Jason, the highway department representative, said the action was “basically the final close out to get all the documents signed” so the county could finish the project.

County highway staff briefed commissioners on a string of capital and grant items. Staff said an alternative-analysis review for Center Street (Bridge 232) indicated rehabilitation costs exceed the 40% threshold of replacement, and that INDOT and the Federal Highway Administration would still have to sign off on any final recommendation. Jason told the commissioners that replacement was the likely recommendation but that the state and federal agencies would make the final determination.

On equipment, staff described a used 2020 vacuum/jet trailer that the vendor offered to sell to Marshall County for $122,000, applying roughly two months of rental credit to that price. Stan, who attended a demonstration, recommended purchasing the unit and urged commissioners to “grab it” because opportunities for machines in that condition are rare. Commissioners voted to authorize highway staff to take the purchase request to the county council for funding approval. The motion passed with an audible vote of “aye.”

Commissioners also approved submitting the Community Crossings 2025-1 application package to the county council for the required local financial commitment. The program staff said the application round totals up to $2,000,000, with approximately $1.5 million coming from the state and a $500,000 local match. Jason said the county will target projects to stay near the $2 million cap and that any projects over that amount could be handled separately.

Other highway items discussed included scheduling for surveys and utility coordination on county roads, notice of upcoming NOFA deadlines and presentations scheduled for Jan. 8, and ongoing equipment rentals related to frequent fiber-optic conflicts in the county’s right-of-way.

The commissioners and highway staff discussed the county’s broader road program funding needs. Staff said the road program would remain underfunded without additional council support and that bringing a draft of the road plan to the next meeting would help commissioners and the council evaluate funding options. No final decision on full funding was made at the meeting.

Votes at the meeting recorded on these items were procedural: the bridge closeout was approved; the motion to allow staff to pursue council approval for the $122,000 equipment purchase was approved; and the motion authorizing staff to take the Community Crossings application to the council was approved. Commissioners did not set a council vote date on the council-side appropriations during the session.