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Last updated on Wednesday, May 31, 2017
(BEDFORD) - Lawrence County Highway Superintended David Holmes told the Lawrence County Commissioners recently that highway crews are busy sealing cracks on roadways, mowing and paving roadways.
The following roads are scheduled for paving:
All roads will be closed from approximately 7:30 am until approximately 5 p.m., weather permitting.
The commissioners voted to accept the low bid of $92,000 from Flynn & Sons Excavating & Paving Inc. to pave Wallner Quarry Road. Holmes says the bid came in below what the engineer estimated.
"The bid does not include moving of the utility lines," says Holmes. "I will contact Duke (Energy) and see if there will be a cost to do that."
Once these paving projects are done it will complete the 2016 Community Crossing Grant projects.
"The 2017 Community Crossing Grant will be a 75/25 match, because the county's population is under 50,000," Holmes told the commissioners. "Bids for projects must be submitted by June 27 and submitted to INDOT by July 15th. It will be around the first of August when we know what we are awarded and won't see the funding until probably December."
Bridge crews are working on the Jasper McKeigg Bridge.
"The contractors have completed pouring the deck and our crews are working on the approaches and guard rails," Holmes added.
Bids for Bridge 133 on Sand Pit Road are due at the next commissioner's meeting.
"The sub-structure is fine, but the concrete deck is in bad shape," says Holmes. "The bridge will be closed for 90 days once a contract is signed."
Holmes will seek bids to replace Bridge 67 in Lawrenceport at the boat ramp.
"We would like to expand the bridge and do some pier work," Holmes added.
Commissioner Gene McCraken asked Holmes about painting the green bridge at Otis Park. Holmes says he will seek quotes for the project, but believes the paint is lead-based and would have to be captured when removed increasing the cost of the project.
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Sheriff Mike Branham reported that there were 156 inmates in the county jail on Tuesday morning, of those 34 were female, 19 Level 6 offenders and 5 were participating in the Recovery Works ReEntry Program, a state pilot project.
The goal of the program is to connect offenders to services they need to be successful.
The targeted population are inmates to be released within 90 days, however resources will be made available to anyone who is to be released in less than 90 days, based on need.
Inmates participating in the program are housed in the same section of the jail. All programs will be open ended. Group skills and skill development groups will be evidence based and treatment access will be offered daily.
Post-release, those that participated in the program will be eligible for recovery and employment coaching.
Officials hope to serve 24 men and 8 women in the first six months of the program and an additional 24 men and 8 women in the second and subsequent six months.
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Lawrence County Emergency Management Director Valerie Luchauer says the hostage situation drill conducted at the Lawrence County Courthouse the evening of May 16th went well.
"I can't thank the county and city police officers who participated and their partnership," says Luchauer. "We learned a lot and got a better understanding on what worked and what we need to work on."
She also stressed the need to look into the biological impacts, if an emergency situation would occur.
"The clean up cost is something many don't realize or think about after an event such as this," she added.
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