The Daviess County Commissioners met as the County Drainage Monday and heard a complaint from Johnny Long. Long lives on CR 125 E and said water was backing up from an unnamed neighbor’s property onto his property. He said the problem was caused by the natural flow of the water being blocked.
Long said the neighbor was being uncooperative and asked the Drainage Board for help. Commissioner Michael Taylor said the large road culvert was 3/4 full of water and the water’s exit path seemed to have silted up. The Board asked the county attorney to check to see if the county has a prescriptive easement for drainage in the area and Highway Superintendent Phil Cornelius will investigate the culvert.
The Daviess County Commissioners on Monday approved a contract with Verizon to establish a wireless sight near the County Highway Garage. Verizon will pay the county $800 per month and the county will be able use the tower for free. The contract runs for five years with an automatic renewal clause.
–
The Commissioners reported they’ve heard that INDOT may start repair work on State Road 257 between Washington and Otwell…maybe. County Engineer Jason Heile said he had been informed that INDOT will renew the highway’s surface beginning in September, if the job does not have to be rebid. When work does begin sections of the highway will be closed during a projected 21 day work window. However, Heile said the schedule may be adjusted if INDOT Is forced to rebid the project and because the construction season is nearing its end. In the meantime, State Road 257 continues to deteriorate. Commissioner Michael Taylor commented the road’s surface is dangerous, especially for motorcycles
–
In other news from the meeting, the commissioners voiced a safety concern. They talked about the increased bicycle traffic by members of the Amish Community especially in Barr and Bogard Townships. The Commissioners cautioned that some Amish are riding bicycles into Washington for shopping and urged motorists to be aware and drive carefully.
On Monday, the normally collegial Commissioners saw a senior Commissioner publicly chastise the board’s junior member.
Commissioner Tony Wichman invited local insurance broker Paul Williams to the meeting. Williams gave a 15 minute presentation which refuted what he said were multiple erroneous figures and misstatements concerning county insurance he said were made by Commissioner Nathan Gabhart in an interview with Washington Times-Herald reporter Mike Grant.
Williams’ gave a powerpoint presentation which showed Gabhart’s statements and figures, along with what Williams said were the true facts and figures. In rebuttal to Gabhart’s assertion that the Commissioners received no information about the County’s insurance package, Williams pointed out that he frequently met with Commissioners Tony Wichman and Michael Taylor, but when he had reached out to Commissioner Gabhart, Gabhart said he was engaged in other matters and could not meet.
In a forceful statement at the end of the presentation, Wichman said he was upset with Gabhart for the wrong information and facts Gabhart had used in the newspaper article. Wichman then moved to place Williams on Gabhart’s Insurance Committee. At the end of the meeting, Gabhart, who has been a Commissioner for eight months said the misstatements were the result of his lack of experience.