Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, October 4, 2017
(BEDFORD) - Lawrence County Highway Superintendent David Holmes told the commissioners Tuesday morning Star Boulevard will be closed for three days during BNL’s fall break (Oct. 16-20) while crews replace Bridge 197, south of East Boyd Lane.
"It will take at least three days to cut out the north side, build a wall and back fill," says Holmes.
Work continues at Bridge 67 in Lawrenceport. Crews are currently doing core drilling and soil testing.
Holmes says a future project will be to replace the small 40-foot bridge on Pumphouse Road.
Holmes is also apply for a federal grant to significantly reduce road sign replacement costs to the county to meet the latest federal retroreflectivity standards set by the Federal Highway Administration to improve traffic safety.
"It is a 90/10 grant," Holmes added. "We are looking at a $600,000 to $700,000 to replace the signs."
Holmes says the cost does not include replacing street name signs.
Sheriff Mike Branham says officers have been conducting stop and speed limit sign placements.
"They have Shawswick Township complete," he added. "We are looking at where these signs are placed and coming up with an inventory list and a list of where new signs or additional signs are needed."
Sheriff Branham reported there were 172 inmates in the jail Tuesday morning. Of those 44 were females, 23 Level 6 felons and none were Department of Correction holds. Many of those in jail are on technical offenses like failure to appear in court or petition to revoke probation charges.
"Of the 11 booked into the jail on Monday, 5 were for technical offenses," Sheriff Branham says. "Most of those offenses have no bond."
The public will NOT have access to restrooms at the jail beginning Monday for two to four weeks.
The bathrooms date back to 1989 and do not meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards and are being remodeled. Repairs will be paid for with funds from the building repair budget.
Officers will receive new portable breathalyzers thanks to a grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. The department was given 15 new breathalyzers - a $10,000 value.
Officers are completing emergency management incident training.
Lawrence County Emergency Management Director Valerie Luchauer will hold a "Bad Home" hazardous material drill in Oolitic the morning of Oct. 14th from 9 a.m. until Noon behind the General Dollar Store. Oolitic and Marshall Volunteer Fire Departments will be participating.
On October 16th St. Vincent Dunn Hospital will be holding an active shooter drill.
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Luchauer says work continues on replacing the guide wires at the communication town located on Kings Ridge Road.
The tower, built in 1961, is 320-feet tall and has 36 guide wires securing it to the ground and the aging guide wires need to be replaced. The county has owned the tower for more than 40 years with little to no repairs being made on the tower.
Commissioner Rodney Fish has secured a firm to remove the timber and dead trees from around the tower. The tower sets on 11.3 acres, but only 4 to 5 acres have trees on it. The commissioners received a third payment Monday on the sale of the timber, which will help pay the cost of replacing the guide wires.
In other business:
The commissioners appointed former commissioner Bill Spreen to the Public Defender Board.
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The commissioners accepted all three bids to provide winter salt for the county.
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