County engineer secures bond, forwards appropriations and clears multiple highway personnel changes

County Engineer Kevin Russel asked the Harrison County commissioners on April 21 to take several actions related to road projects, equipment and personnel.

Russel presented the performance and payment bond for the 2025-1-CCMG paving project; the board voted 3-0 to sign the bond. He also requested two additional appropriations from the local road & street fund: $100,000 for parts (truck & tractor account) and $25,000 for equipment. Commissioner Stepro noted these are the types of recurring expenses the highway department is trying to mitigate; the commissioners voted unanimously to forward both requests to the county council for consideration.

Russel requested authorization to allow Highway Superintendent Glen Bube to sign paperwork related to compact track loader trade-ins, contingent on county council approval of funding; the commissioners granted that authorization by unanimous vote. On personnel, the board approved two positional transfers effective April 21, 2025 — Lee Brewer to highway crewman and Jeffrey Shaffer to district 3 foreman — and approved hiring BJ Terry as a highway crewman with a requirement that Terry obtain a commercial driver’s license within a 90-day probationary period.

Russel's items were taken during the commissioners' regular meeting; the motions carried by unanimous votes. The minutes do not include additional details about funding sources beyond the appropriation requests or an implementation timetable for equipment trade-ins.