Wayne County Commissioners approved two contracts to address different road issues at its June 24 meeting.
County engineer Brandon Sanders requested a road study with Terracon consulting to establish a plan for a landslide affecting part of Elks Road. Results of the geotechnical study will determine safety precautions and repair options. The road is currently closed to one lane for local traffic to mitigate further damage.
The highway department’s Mike Sharp confirmed $600,000 in jail bonds fund will cover the $50,913 cost of the study. A new line item was granted pending county council’s approval for the transfer.
Construction at Fountain City Pike will move forward with American Structure Point. INDOT will cover 43%, or $140,000, of the $334,182 price, with the county responsible for $190,000. Due to environmental and Federal Highway review delays, the October-scheduled project could be pushed back a year.
A 40 mph speed-limit adjustment was approved to accommodate a commercial driveway permit near the intersection of S. Washington and McConaha Road in Hagerstown.
Abington resident Shawn Phenis’ petition to vacate public access to eight undeveloped alleys near his 4691 Pottershop Road property was approved. He owns the lots in the area and aims to survey the properties for future development. Another resident’s query about graveling a public way at her home would be investigated later.
County administrator Steve Higinbotham reported the fairgrounds saw electricity installed for future street lights, and an unexpected water line was relocated for the parking lot improvements, adding $5,000 to the budget.
Window replacement at the Wayne County Jail is set for Aug. 21, and both the generator switch gear repair and upgrades to the courthouse front entrance are on schedule. Higinbotham will have attorney Ron Cross review contracts for courthouse security upgrades before proceeding.
A $167,481 bid for three Tahoe sheriff vehicles was approved from Fort Wayne’s Kelly Chevrolet. The motion included an additional $2,000 as $165,000 was originally allocated.
A tax certificate sale for a north Richmond property to Mount Olive Baptist Church, 1108 N. H St., will first be offered to adjacent property owners. The lot is valued at $356. Mount Olive currently owns the two neighboring lots.
Cross reported a surface water runoff complaint at a Palmer Road property and wants to expedite a tax certificate sale of a vacant and abandoned North 16th property. The latter may require a procedural review with the auditor’s office. Tax deed documents for three Vaile properties are near completion.
In other business, a state covered bridges report, a Land Bank board member nomination, and a Wayne County Fair proclamation were all approved.
The meeting closed with discussion of a new state bill requiring building, housing and lot inventory data by the end of 2026. As this information is not currently collected, Commissioner Jeff Plasterer is exploring a firm offering those services at $7,000. He hopes smaller towns and municipalities can form a contract to receive the service at a discount.
Commissioners meet most Wednesday mornings in the Wayne County Commissioners/Council Chambers, Wayne County Administration Building, 401 East Main Street, Richmond. The public may attend.
A version of this article will appear in the July 8 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
