Bridge project almost done (11/3/03)

A project to replace five bridges in a six-mile stretch of Jay County road 300 North at a cost of more than $1 million is almost complete.

Jay County Engineer Dan Watson said this morning final work is being wrapped up on the last bridge, which is located near county road 600 East.

Watson said that entire stretch of 300 North from county road 300 East all the way to the Ohio line should be opened Tuesday or Wednesday for the first time since mid-March.

Commissioner Mike Leonhard asked Watson why there were large rocks in the channel of the ditch below the last bridge being finished.

Watson said the rock was used to fill a large hole, but that he might ask the construction company to remove the rocks.

The total cost of the federal aid project was $1.06 million, with the county’s share approximately $230,000.

Also this morning, a pitch from a company interested in managing construction of a possible expansion of the county jail didn’t draw a swing from Jay County Commissioners.

The commissioners told a representative from The Skillman Corporation this morning that they aren’t even likely to consider a major jail project until and unless ordered to by a court or some other judicial authority.

Tom Mullineux of Skillman told Commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Gary Theurer and Leonhard that he wanted to introduce himself and check on the status of the project.

The county is in the process of purchasing a building and lot adjacent to the jail on the north for possible future jail expansion. The price of the property at the southeast corner of West Main and Ship streets in Portland is $175,000.

“I’m not interested in expanding right now,” Theurer told Mullineux.

In other business this morning, the commissioners:

•Named Prosecuting Attorney Brad Burkett as purchasing agent for two radar units. The units, which will be purchased using money from a pre-trial diversion fund for traffic offenders, will be given to state and county police.

Burkett, who also serves as attorney for the commissioners, said two of the units will cost $2,616. He said that the state does not have money available for the purchase of the unit.

“This is pretty sad, when the county has to start buying radar guns for the state,” Theurer said.

•Heard Roy Leverich of the Jay County Cemetery Association say he has not received information from state officials on starting a new cemetery.

Leverich received an inquiry from a member of the Amish community recently regarding the steps required to form a cemetery.[[In-content Ad]]