Harrison County commissioners forward $650,000 appropriation to buy road equipment, approve bridge grant commitment

County Engineer Kevin Russel told the Harrison County Commissioners on Oct. 6 that purchasing a distributor and paver from Owen County would let the highway department handle smaller projects and preparatory work in‑house, potentially saving money compared with contracting. The commission voted to forward an additional appropriation request for $650,000 from the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund to support that purchase (moved by Commissioner Brad Wiseman; seconded by Commissioner Annissa Kellum; vote 3–0).

Russel also presented the county’s FY2026 Community Crossings matching grant application and said the highway department had selected Bridge #43 as the target project; the board approved signing a funding commitment letter for the application (3–0). The commission approved administrative actions on the Lanesville Connector Road project, including change order #6 (start date revision; no cost change) and change order #7 (monument type change; +$1,890.75), both by unanimous vote.

The board signed statements of basis for just compensation covering four parcels needed for Corydon Ridge Road right‑of‑way offers, totaling $18,450, and approved transferring funds from the highway department’s bituminous budget as proposed. Under personnel items related to operations, the commission approved hiring Douglas Ott as a highway crewman on the brush crew (3–0).

The appropriation request will be forwarded for further action according to county budget procedures; the Community Crossings grant application will proceed with the signed commitment letter. No additional public testimony or extended debate on the purchases and project documents was recorded in the minutes.