Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County approves SJCA contract as bridge-inspection rules shift; LOI deadline could cost funding
Summary
Daviess County approved an SJCA consulting contract after highway staff said federal and INDOT changes moved certain bridge inspections from a 24‑month to a 12‑month cycle; Letters of Intent must be scored and under contract by Aug. 1 or funding could be lost.
Daviess County commissioners on March 10 approved a consulting contract with SJCA to support countywide bridge inspections after the Indiana Department of Transportation and federal agencies shortened inspection cycles for certain rail‑car bridges.
Chris Winkler, Daviess County highway supervisor, told the board the change moves some bridges from a 24‑month inspection cycle to a 12‑month cycle and that INDOT will reimburse 80% of inspection costs while the county covers the remaining 20%. "The Letters of Intent (LOIs) need to be scored and sent back to INDOT and under contract by 8/1, otherwise the funding will be lost," Winkler said. He also reported he turned the SJCA contract in on Monday, 3/9/2026.
Winkler said he has requested FEMA funding for phase 2 of this year’s countywide bridge inspections and asked the board to seek approximately $10,192 of the roughly $12,000 estimated FEMA reimbursement for the work. Commissioners moved and unanimously approved the SJCA contract to meet the new schedule and funding timelines.
The vote was moved by TC Cook and seconded by Nathan Gabhart and passed unanimously. The county will proceed with the contract and continue to seek available federal and state reimbursements for inspection cycles.
