(BEDFORD) – Lawrence County Highway Department crews have begun the paving season in District 1.
Once paving is completed in District 1, crews will move to District 2 and then on to District 3.
On Wednesday, crews will finish paving Cobb Lane from State Road 54/58 to Springville Judah Road. The road will be closed from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
On Thursday crews will pave Old State Road 60 to Thompson Lane. The road will be closed from 8 a.m. until 4:30 a.m.
Then on Friday, crews will pave Lincoln Road from Thralls Road to Bono Road. The road will be closed from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Highway Superintendent David Holmes says the county may experience budget cuts do to COVID-19 and can’t say at this time how many miles of county roads will be paved.
Holmes has submitted a grant application for a Community Crossing Grant.
Crews are also patching and doing culvert repairs. A new box culvert was installed on Rueter Lane.
Holmes is concerned about the erosion issue along Leatherwood Creek.
Holmes told the commissioners the county is not responsible for the problem but he is trying to find a solution.
Currently, the area is eroding and exposing the Texas gas line in some areas. It is also causing the river to get closer to the road.
“It will eventually undercut the road,” Holmes added.
Holmes has spoken to the Department of Natural Resources and plans to speak to the Army Corps of Engineers to see if a solution can be found.
“The honest answer is this is not our problem,” says Holmes. “This is a DNR issue and the private landowners. A permit alone to do the work from DNR is $10,000. We are trying to figure out what to do.”
Holmes praised his workforce for continuing to practice social distancing and taking all the necessary precautions to stay safe.
In other business:
- The commissioners are applying for a $20,500 grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs to help small business owners amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. If received the money will be divided between businesses that qualify.
- The commissioners approved a depository rule to deposit county funds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will be deposited twice weekly until the time of the emergency has passed. Funds will be secured on days in which a deposit is not made.
- The commissioners gave Chad Shew of Community Corrections permission to apply for a grant for $4,850 for the Juvenile Problem Solving Court.
- Sheriff Mike Branham submitted his annual jail report. He also reported there were 113 inmates in the jail; of those 92 were male, 21 females, one Level 6 convicted felon, and one Department of Correction hold. There were no parole holds.
- The commissioners approved a request for the Bedford Farmers’ Market to begin on May 5th. That date may be pushed back if Governor Eric Holcomb extends the COVID-19 “Stay-At-Home” order. If that order is extended officials will submit a new date to the commissioners.
- The commissioners corrected the holiday schedule to reflect the new May 5th date for early voting.
- Emergency Management Director Valerie Luchauer is busy working with healthcare providers and the Lawrence County Health Department on COVID-19 needs. She stressed this is also Telecommunications Week and to take the time to a praise dispatcher for their service.
