Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
CenterPoint to bore under Ty Avenue; commissioners condition parcel use on tree-replacement and executed agreement
Summary
CenterPoint told Floyd County commissioners it will bore under Ty Avenue and use a temporary, 90-foot work bridge over Blackiston Run to assemble pipeline off the roadway; commissioners approved county-parcel use contingent on a signed interlocal agreement and native-tree replacement.
CenterPoint engineer Jeremy Bolchick told Floyd County commissioners on May 4 that the utility company plans to bore under Ty Avenue and install a temporary, roughly 90-foot work bridge over Blackiston Run so workers can assemble and x-ray pipeline off the roadway rather than trench across homeowners' driveways.
"I'm Jeremy Bolchick over at CenterPoint. I'm an engineer at CenterPoint," Bolchick said, describing plans to "put a temporary bridge over Blackiston Run so we can string pipe" and to perform welding and x‑ray testing on the work platform rather than in the road. He said the temporary structure would be used as a workspace for welding, coating and drying pipe prior to pulling it into the bore.
Chief Operating Officer Nick Scribe and commissioners probed environmental protections. Commissioners asked for clear commitments on tree and vegetation replacement after the work; Bolchick said any removed trees would be replaced with native species and that plantings with strong root systems would be prioritized "especially the vegetation that has strong root systems, keep the embankment starting and strong, and we'll replace all of them."
The commission agreed to allow CenterPoint to use a county parcel for the work but approved that permission "outside of a meeting" and contingent on final execution of an interlocal/local agreement that the county and CenterPoint must sign. The motion approving county approval and execution outside the meeting carried on a voice vote with affirmative responses from commissioners and the chair.
Why it matters: The plan avoids heavy trenching along Ty Avenue and aims to limit traffic and driveway disruptions for residents, but it involves temporary use of county land and removal/replacement of vegetation along a stream embankment. Commissioners required specific replacement language before final execution.
The county did not record a roll-call vote by name in the transcript; the approval was recorded by voice as affirmative. The agreement will be handled administratively after the meeting.
