County approves three utility agreements, including water main work on 700 East

Randolph County commissioners approved three county utility agreements during a single consent sequence: a fiber installation with Sunrise Telecom (work order 25‑25), a pole and line replacement with Indiana Michigan Power (work order 25‑26), and a water main installation along 700 East (work order 25‑27).

County and city engineers, including highway engineer Joe Copeland, reviewed the 700 East plan in detail. Copeland urged full compaction of backfill, warned against using concrete replacement that could hide settlement, and recommended asphalt option B over concrete. City and county staff clarified that the 8‑foot trench depth noted in some plan language applied to crossings into farmland; within the county road section they intend to place the main at a minimum frost depth of about 54 inches (4.5 feet). Staff and the contractor agreed to dynamic DCP testing onsite to confirm compaction and to revise plans to place meter bases/taps on private property or secure homeowner permission rather than leave pits in side ditches.

Commissioners moved, seconded, and approved each work order by voice vote as presented by county staff. For the 700 East project staff said construction could begin soon after final plan revisions and coordination with property owners; commissioners requested any remaining engineering revisions be submitted in redline form for staff review.

Clarifying details recorded in the meeting included the change from an initial 8‑foot depth to a county standard frost depth near 54 inches for county road sections, use of asphalt repair option to allow future trenching, and the plan to locate meter taps with homeowner permission when they run near the side ditch.