Filling the gaps: County works to address understaffing and crumbling roads

Despite a recently fully filled crew, the Owen County Highway Department and its pothole patching team hasn't made much progress this summer.

June storms and multiple tornadoes have occupied the department with cleaning fallen trees and other debris blocking roads.

"We've just not had the manpower with what we've had to deal with," department superintendent Chad Walker said at the June 25 Owen County Board of Commissioners meeting.

As long as big storms don't continue to roll into the area, the crew will resume patching the roads on June 29, Walker said.

"What I've told people is we have to open roads before we can patch holes on other roads," County Commissioner Norman Warner said. "I mean, people have to be able to get in and out. It's a public safety issue. That has to take precedence. Not popular, but that's how it is."

Working with asphalt is very weather dependent, Walker said, because of the asphalt plants that shut down if there's a chance of rain.

Commissioner Sam Hobbs emphasized the importance of fixing the roads and being open with county residents about the progress the department has made and where it plans to start fixing next. He also suggested that it could be justifiable for the county to get quotes from private companies and see if it can afford the help to fix the roads.

"Sometimes the pain is gonna be worth the gain," Hobbs said. "I'm just thinking outside the box because I know we're way behind schedule, but we've got numerous calls from all over the county."

At the meeting, the commissioners also discussed a position in development that was suggested to relieve the commissioners and the auditor's office. The position would designate a person to take calls, answer questions and relay information to the commissioners, as well as handle human resources duties for the auditor's office.

Auditor Sheila Reeves stressed the importance of finalizing a job description so the county can get started hiring someone to fill the role.

On June 12, Owen County Sheriff's Department Sergeant Nathan Martin was shot while conducting a welfare check. Hobbs said while he has been recovering, he has only been receiving 66 percent of his pay. The commissioners passed a motion to sustain his full pay and work to get a new policy enacted.

The commissioners also approved a new postage machine contract to move forward.

Additionally, the commissioners briefly discussed the county jail project, with the announcement that the future jail property owner approved moving the closing date from July 4 to 31. On July 13, the county council and commissioners will meet to review moving forward with the jail.

"I want the public to understand that on July 13, it's just for the council to approve moving forward with the jail project," Hobbs said. "There's still a lot of legwork to do."

Heather Huntington, county building and planning department administrator, asked the commissioners to help gather a clear idea of what parcels were affected by the recent severe weather. She wants to consider exempting those who lost meter boxes from having to pay permit fees when the county does electrical inspections and repairs.

Reeves said the county has an ordinance that deals with similar emergencies on a case-by-case basis.

"I just feel like they've been through enough," Huntington said.

The Commissioners will meet again at 6 p.m. on July 2 and July 16 in the Commissioners' Room on the second floor of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.