A new software tool could help smooth out driving on Wayne County roads.
Taylor White, a director of customer success for Vialytics, showed off the road management system during a June 18 presentation to Wayne County’s commissioners.
Vialytics loads its software onto an iPhone that mounts inside a vehicle, which is then driven at 40 miles per hour over a road. The tool identifies pot holes, cracks and other distress types, and then assigns an overall rating to the road.
Brandon Sanders, the county engineer, and Mike Sharp, the county highway superintendent, recommend the county contract with Vialytics to use the system.
The county could generate as much data as it wants — data that it would own. The road ratings would be used when the county submits to the state its asset management plan for its annual PASER, or pavement surface evaluation and rating.
Currently, Sharp travels county roads in the spring, identifying work necessary and rating the roads. The work is completed, but the roads are not rerated before submitting the state report each year. With the Vialytics system, the county could again travel the roads in the fall to record a higher rating for the improved roads. Maintaining the overall county rating above 6.0 impacts how the highway department may spend its funding.
The Vialytics system also identifies, geolocates and provides the condition of all traffic signs.
Sanders and Sharp said a third feature would also be useful. Work orders can be created through the software, which simplifies assigning needed work and enables tracking of the work’s completion.
The contract would be $45,664 annually for three years, a total of $136,992, which would be split between the bridge and highway budgets. Commissioners indicated they would present the proposal to Wayne County Council during its July 2 meeting.
Insurance updates
The county renewals for health insurance and casualty insurance begin July 1, and commissioners received updates about both.
Cathy Dunn of Dunn & Associates, the county’s benefits administrator, provided commissioners with several options to reduce the county’s cost for its $5 million program. Commissioners only acted on one — using Canarx to purchase prescription medications outside the country. Others will be discussed later.
Andy Brown of Gregory & Appel Insurance provided good news about the casualty insurance. The county’s premium with Travelers Insurance will increase $45,733, which is 5.49%, making the premium about $880,000. Commissioners had budgeted for a 10% increase this year, following last year’s 18.4% increase.
Brown credited the sheriff’s department and its work accrediting the jail and enforcement divisions with reducing liability exposure and keeping the premiums lower.
Bridge projects
Sanders also presented a contract for right of way acquisition necessary for the Waterfall Road bridge project.
The $35,000 is added to the engineering contract that now totals $426,233.60. The estimated $2.5 million replacement is scheduled to let early next year.
Commissioners approved the contract 3-0.
Sanders also said additional patching necessary to finish the South G Street bridge project will cost $393,300, with INDOT providing $230,000. With that expense and what remains to be paid from the other work, Sanders requested permission to transfer $75,000 to cover costs.
Commissioners agreed 3-0 to recommend council make the transfer, and council will consider the transfer during its July 16 workshop.
A version of this article appeared in the June 25 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.