The Daviess County Commissioners heard reports from the County Highway Department and the Sheriff’s Office at their regular meeting Tuesday morning. Highway Superintendent Chris Winkler told the commissioners there are 779 miles of county roads in the county. Of the county roads, Winkler said that 359 miles are hard-surface roads. Winkler said that on the state’s rating scale, Daviess County’s roads rate a 7 out of 10. The state average for roads in all counties is 6. Winkler also said the highway is also responsible for maintaining the right of way and ditches, as well as the 126 bridges of varying sizes in the county and the 2800 culverts on county roads. Winkler also discussed potential future road projects with the commissioners.
Daviess County Sheriff Gary Allison reported that the Security Center had processed 1059 bookings last year. Allison also reported that the department had worked on 485 wrecks last year and dealt with four fatalities. Allison said the number of bookings was down from the previous year.
In regular business, the commissioners opened bids for farming three tracts of county-owned acreage near the Highway Department and the airport. The bids were taken under advisement. The commissioners also approved contracts with Taber-Owens as general contractors, Mel-Kay Electric, Alstadt-Hoffman Plumbing, and Greyer Fire Protection for the courthouse project.
In other business, the commissioners held a public hearing on transferring property on Main Street in Washington that is subject to a tax sale to Ride Solution. The transfer will become final in 120 days unless the owner of record removes the tax lien on the property.
