Owen County commissioners sign detour agreement to secure reimbursement for Freedom Road repairs

Owen County commissioners voted Dec. 18 to sign a detour agreement intended to secure reimbursement for damage expected to Freedom Road after a planned state highway closure.

Sheriff Chad told the board the highway contractor intends to close the highway regardless of county approval, and said signing the agreement was the county’s only realistic way to obtain reimbursement for repairs. "They're gonna close the highway regardless of what we do," Chad said, and commissioners discussed accepting the agreement to make the contractor accountable for work that will cross the county road.

Commissioners emphasized traffic-control measures to reduce safety risks on narrow local roads where the detour will route traffic. They instructed staff to post temporary signage, add children/warning signs and seek a 25-mph temporary posting, and discussed a 'no trucks' restriction to prevent heavy vehicles from using narrow residential streets. One commissioner noted school buses will be affected if work extends into the school term and urged quick coordination with the Department of Transportation and sheriff’s office.

The board moved and approved a motion to sign the agreement so the county can seek reimbursement for any damage to Freedom Road (the transcript also referenced the road as "Freeman Road"). Commissioners directed staff to publish the detour information on the county website and to arrange posted speed and 'no trucks' signs at both ends of the local detour route.

The motion passed on a voice vote at the meeting. Next steps are to finalize the signed agreement with the road contractor, notify the public via the county website, and implement the temporary signage and speed-posting plan ahead of detour traffic.