Most of Tuesday’s Daviess County Commissioners meeting was taken up by the on-going repair and ADA compliance projects at the Courthouse.
The Commissioners approved an appropriation to pay Strong Tower Construction for work in the external skylight. Also approved were four Courthouse maintenance projects which were combined into a single appropriation. And SIDC representative Michelle Carrico reported on the payout for the ADA compliance project. Carrico said a grant of $93,909 would pay for most of the cost. The Commissioners approved $13,656 as the County’s share of the project.
The Commissioners also gave permission to Emergency Management Director Paul Goss to apply for two $14,000 Homeland Security grants to purchase a thermal detector and lithium batteries for 800 megahertz radios. And the Sheriff’s Department received permission to apply for a $16,000 grant to pay for officer overtime during Operation Pull Over.
Commissioner Nathan Gabhart reported that the current arrangement with the City of Washington’s Building Commissioner administering the County Zoning Code has worked well, but that the work load associated with the county is increasing to the point that additional staff is needed in the office. Gabhart said the County’s yearly share of the office expense would possibly increase to around $50,000 to $75,000 per year.
In other business, the Commissioners approved a county road cost sharing policy. Highway Superintendent Phil Cornelius reported the County Council had approved $200,000 for the project. County Engineer Jason Heile told the Council that Knox County is now working on the Old Vincennes Road bridge over the West Fork, and the bridge is closed to all traffic. Heile also announced that there will be a public information meeting concerning the Washington 15th Street Bridge project on October 18, at 6 pm, in the Kiwanis Cabin at Washington’s Eastside Park.
At the end of the meeting the Commissioners tabled consideration of service contracts with the Daviess County Economic Development Foundation and Corporation for further information.