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Wells County highway seeks $5.2M, implements AI road-management tool
Summary
Highway officials requested a $5,203,481 highway budget, $615,500 for LR&S and $1,155,000 for cumulative bridge funds, and reported adopting Vialytics, an AI road-management system; machinery purchases to replace aging fleet were proposed.
Highway Supervisor Shawn Bonar and Highway Engineer Nate Whitacre presented the highway department's 2025 requests Aug. 13, 2024, asking for $5,203,481 for highway operations, $615,500 for LR&S and $1,155,000 for the Cumulative Bridge fund, and a 3% wage increase.
Bonar said the department will reduce salt and sand purchases because of current stock levels and intends to purchase new machinery to replace an aging fleet, citing high maintenance costs for older equipment. He corrected his previously stated stipend, noting it should be $27,000 annually rather than $28,000.
The highway has implemented Vialytics, described in the meeting as "a comprehensive AI powered intelligent road management system" that records and catalogs road inventory and recognizes inventory-control issues; the department requested increased software maintenance funding to support it.
The bridge request of $1,155,000 and the highway capital plan will be part of the Council's follow-up deliberations on Aug. 20. No formal action or vote was recorded during the Aug. 13 session.
