Peters updates Commissioners on Highway Dept. progress
MARSHALL COUNTY — Chip and Seal paving projects should be completed this week. This came from Highway Department Supervisor Jason Peters, during the aug. 19 meeting of the County Commissioners, who further explained that only five miles of road have yet to receive chip and seal. The supervisor also reported that the department recently purchased a 2011 Dodge Dakota which will replace an older vehicle.
“The amount of miles it’s (the older vehicle) getting on it and some of the expenses it’s starting to incur, I think it’s time to update,” Peters said. The 2011 Dodge Dakota was purchased at an auction in Valparaiso.
as far as flood repairs, the department is in the process of obtaining permits for projects. Peters noted that he was unsure about how many permits the department would be seeking.
“I think a lot of it just depends on what permitting they require us to do. Hopefully it’s a bundle type permitting because it was due to the flooding issues,” said Peters. The department is currently waiting for a response.
The culvert project located on North Michigan Street in Plymouth was completed. an update on the Baker Street Bridge was given. at a prior meeting, Peters informed the board that the bridge, located in Plymouth, was suffering from a few issues concerning the north sidewalk of the bridge. after meeting with USI, the department will be removing the existing sidewalk and inspect the substructure to determine what is causing the problems. Peters stated that he thought that the substructure underneath the top wood was “still in good shape.”
This department isn’t
looking at doing anything to the bridge until the Fall. Commissioner Kevin Overmyer asked if the bridge sidewalk was still open to the public to which Peters stated it was. Overmyer then asked if this was something that should be closed during the upcoming Blueberry Festival.
“We’ll check it this week just to go out and double check everything,” Peters said in regards to making sure the bridge was safe for travel. “But I don’t see any major concerns.”
Upcoming paving projects to be started Thursday, aug. 22 include:
• 13th Road from SR 17 to Peach
• Muckshaw Road from 13th Road to 14th Road (if the prior project is completed in time). • 3B Road. “Those are two roads I’d really like to try and get done this year. anything else, to me, is just an added bonus,” stated Peters.
Weather permitting, paving, mill and filling for 11th Road will have started already. On aug. 23 and aug. 24, similar projects on Dogwood Road will commence.
Commissioners conveyed praise from the public for recent projects completed by the department.
“I had a farmer on King Road, that said he appreciated the chip and seal job you’re doing,” said Commissioner Mike Delp.