The Daviess County Commissioners approved a grant application for funds from INDOT to assist with the $5 million road improvement project on old U.S. 50 from Washington’s west city limits to CR 350 W. The project will include repairs on the bridge over Colbert Ditch, replacing the dangerous intersection at CR 150 W, and upgrading CR 300 W from Old 50 to the By-Pass. County Highway Superintendent Chris Winkler also told the commissioners that work on West Street in Odon has been delayed for a year to get state help at the intersection with Highway 358. The commissioners agreed to keep fees for horse-drawn vehicles at $125 per buggy for 2024, but noted that the permit fees are likely to increase for 2025. Commissioner Nathan Gabhart said he would like to see the fees reach a balance where the funds generated by the buggy permits match the repair expenses caused by horses using paved roads. The commissioners said repair costs due to damage from horseshoes are approximately $700,000 per year. There were approximately 3100 buggies registered in Daviess County last year.
In regular business, the commissioners approved contracts with Kim Murray for new construction assessment, Purdue Extension, and County Attorney Grant Swartzentruber. The commissioners also agreed to continue the Health Department’s Baby and Me Tobacco Free program. In other business, the commissioners signed a letter of support for a grant to help fund the construction of a new ambulance facility in Washington.
The commissioners also agreed to have the County Aviation Board supervise leases for county-owned farmland in the airport area. The Commissioners will hold their final meeting of 2023 on December 26.