The Pulaski County Commissioners voted 2-1 to place an employee into the general foreman position at the highway department.
Traditionally, the superintendent appoints the employees in his department, but Commissioner Bud Krohn, Jr. said he wanted a “political change”.
“It’s time for a change. I got elected, and that’s what I’d like to do,” said Krohn.
Pulaski County Highway Superintendent Mark Fox informed the commissioners this week that there are three bridges on the 12-month inspection cycle. Work will be done soon to remove them from that list.
“We’re going to place wrap underneath these bridges to correct a substructure undercutting issue and those three will be able to be removed from that 12 month inspection cycle once we complete that,” stated Fox.
Pulaski County residents cannot burn leaves in roadways or within five feet of a road pavement edge. The county commissioners passed an ordinance prohibiting the practice earlier this year. Continue reading
The Pulaski County Commissioners heard from Highway Superintendent Mark Fox on how projects are coming along this summer.
Fox explained that crews are done mowing and and grading is now being completed. Road work, including paving, is about two-thirds finished. He’s searching for a new engine for one of the dump trucks as the original motor recently expired.
The Pulaski County Highway Department will soon have some new equipment. The county commissioners Monday approved the purchase of a ditch bank rotary mower from Bane-Welker Equipment for $8,950. Theirs was the only bid, and it met all of the specifications. Likewise, Braun Chevrolet in Winamac submitted the only bid for the three-quarter ton pickup truck the highway department was looking to buy. The commissioners approved the purchase of a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD for $30,950 from the local dealership. Highway Superintendent Mark Fox says the county got 17 dump truck bids. The commissioners accepted his recommendation to buy a Mack truck with a Jones body from Pozzo Truck Center and let Terry Truck Equipment in Winamac fit the chassis with the necessary uplift. Fox says that’s the most cost-effective way to go, for a total of $151,642. The truck still needs to have a power passenger window so the driver can see while plowing snow and a chip box hitch installed. Fox says the two additions should not cost more than $1,500. That vehicle will have a 15 to 20 year lifespan.
The commissioners rejected the lone bid they received for a diesel tractor. Bane-Welker’s bid exceeded the specifications, as it was for a four-wheel-drive tractor. Fox says the extra drive train will cost the county considerably more to maintain. The county will solicit new tractor bids later this year.
With INDOT spuriously rushing to get state highways repaired throughout the state as they seemingly announce road closures on a daily basis, many area residents are left wondering when county roads will get some attention. For Starke County, roughly 45 miles of road have already been chip sealed and the process finished today, according to Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler, while Pulaski County is just getting started on their chip sealing process.
