Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler went over the current Motor Vehicle Highway and Local Roads and Streets funds with the Starke County Commissioners Monday night and he believes the loss is not as significant as it could have been.
“When the shutdown happened we estimated between five and 15 percent loss for the year,” explained Ritzler. “As you can see, our total loss for the year cumulative for the last month in September was 6.41 percent for MVH and now it’s down to 5.71. It looks like it’s going to hit that five percent. We’re at the lower end of the loss. We’ve been able to handle that. If we get to five percent, we may add to our cushion in MVH and LRS.”
COVID-19 did have its effect on the Highway Department.
Ritzler continued, “What we found was the effects of internal communications. We had the guys work directly from home with their trucks, fewer meetings, mask restrictions, social distancing, and we have had to put extra effort to keep our employees informed and things. Communication is key. When you’re talking about mental health the guys really don’t want to talk about that too much, but not having the engagement every day – we’ve had to step that up. We kinda worked that out so it’s getting better.”
Despite that, Ritzler said crews have been able to get a lot accomplished in the roadway plan for the year. Thirteen miles of hot mix asphalt projects were completed along with 10 miles of cold mix asphalt projects, 46 miles of chip seal, 26 miles of grading/reshaping/and applying grindings to gravel roads, and 22 miles of grading and reshaping gravel roads.
The last passes of mowing are underway as well as the last areas of brush chopping. Ritzler hopes the work can finish before winter weather sets in Northern Indiana.
