Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Friday, June 30, 2017
(DAVIESS CO.) - Representatives of the Amish community approached the Daviess County Commissioners this week concerning damage to county roads.
Officials say steel horseshoes on horse teams used by the region's large Amish population are damaging newly paved roads.
Daviess County is paving the former gravel roads with asphalt to boost economic development. But County Highway Supervisor Phil Cornelius says the steel horseshoes on horses pulling Amish buggies are damaging the roads almost as soon as the asphalt goes down.
Daviess County Councilman Mike Sprinkle says the county spent $1.2 million last fall to pave roads that are now damaged. He says county officials need to find a solution.
Leroy Stoll, William Graber, and James Graber told the commissioners the Amish community is making efforts to help solve the problem.
Amish leaders have recently met with horseshoe providers to see if a different configuration in the shoes would help mitigate the damage.
Stoll also stated there has been an increase in the sale of buggy license plates in an effort to help with the maintenance cost of roads.
Buggy plates are $60 with money going to road repairs and upkeep.
Stoll added Amish families are willing to experiment with rubber shoes, although he did not think that would be a solution to the problem.
The men also suggested to county officials that combining pea gravel, instead of crushed rock, to chip and seal treatments might help better maintain road pavement.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.