Daviess County is one of only two counties in the state to operate their own asphalt plant and it is proving to be a beneficial investment.
Today’s Washington Times Herald reports that the asphalt plant, together with the gas tax increase implemented by the General Assembly, has allowed the county to plan for near record road building this year. Some road work is still being outsourced says County Commissioner Nathan Gabhart, but because of the asphalt plant the majority of the work is being done in-house. County Highway superintendent Phil Cornelius is quoted in the story saying, “The plant is making a big difference. Without it we would be putting down about half as much.”
Mike Grant, author of the Times Herald story, says the plant, purchased by the county as surplus for only a few thousand dollars, has been a big help in stretching tax dollars on roads.
Gabhart says “$46,000 per mile with the asphalt plant is better that the $110,000 per mile by outsourcing.”
This is the first full year the plant has been in operation and already Cornelius says his department is looking to add three new people. Gabhart agreed saying, “We need to build up so we can do more.”
The end result according to Cornelius “should be a lot of nice roads when we are done.”