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Owen County moves forward on priority road bids and staffing plan amid tight highway resources
Summary
Commissioners directed surveys and bids for culverts and ditching on 15 priority roads, agreed to post operator job descriptions and to accept low bids from ENB Paving for several CCMG and INDOT-reimbursable resurfacing projects; board discussed staffing shortages and funding fronting pending reimbursements.
The Owen County Board of Commissioners authorized a set of actions to address road maintenance backlog: staff will bid culvert and ditching work for 15 priority roads, the board approved sending operator job descriptions to county council for posting, and the board accepted low paving bids recommended by highway staff.
Highway update and staffing: Highway superintendent Chad Walker reported progress on Anderson Road and P Ridge and described limits caused by staff shortages and leave; commissioners and staff agreed that filling operator positions is a near-term priority. Commissioners directed that Commissioner Dave Risk work with Chad and Bonita to finalize an updated job description and to get it to council on schedule for posting.
Bids and funding decisions: The board accepted the low ENB Paving bid for the CCMG package (Tower, Mitten, Freedom Marney and Gross Cemetery) at $975,373.80 and approved ENB as the low bidder on the Little Flock resurfacing project (low bid $215,879) with the understanding the county could temporarily front funds from Fund 1169 pending INDOT reimbursement for the Little Flock work.
Operational context: Commissioners discussed the long-term cost differences between stone spreading and chip-and-seal or asphalt resurfacing and plans to seek state or council funding for more extensive pavement work. Board members emphasized the need for bids on ditching/culvert packages so they can present firm cost estimates to council and seek additional revenue.
Next steps: The highway department will publish bid solicitations for the ditching and culvert work, post operator positions if council approves the job description, and coordinate scheduling with ENB and INDOT for CCMG and Little Flock projects.
