Residents want Clyde Moberly in county road system

The request to turn a country lane into a county road came in August 1977 as farm fields became homesteads.

That lane extending south from Webster Road was named Clyde Moberly Road in November 1978, and the intention of the county commissioners at the time was clear: They would accept Clyde Moberly into the county road system.

Since then, the county has treated Clyde Moberly as a county road, clearing snow and applying asphalt; however, there’s no record in meeting minutes or elsewhere that Clyde Moberly officially became a county road. The current commissioners have an opportunity to correct that by declaring Clyde Moberly a public way.

They conducted a public hearing July 24 during which six residents — from the 14 parcels along the road — supported Clyde Moberly officially becoming a county road. If it remains a private lane, school buses and emergency vehicles would not access it and residents would have their addresses changed to Webster Road.

The roadway runs inside a 30-foot-wide right-of-way and has a turnaround area at its south end. That’s required for school buses and snow-removal equipment.

Residents expressed some concern about losing property if the county accepts the road; however, no property lines would be changed. Essentially, the road would function as it has, with the county maintaining it as in the past.

Because the road has been used for more than 20 consecutive years, commissioners believe it can remain in the 30-foot right-of-way rather than meeting state requirements of a 40-foot right-of-way for new roads.

Commissioners noted the consensus of residents but did not make a decision.

One resident had a survey of the area performed and is waiting for those results. Commissioners agreed temporarily to wait for those results, but Commissioner Jeff Plasterer said they’d try to take action within 30 days. Whether accepting the roadway or not, commissioners will approve an ordinance to create an official record.

County receives good news about bridge funding

Brandon Sanders, the county engineer provided commissioners with good news about bridge funding.

The state fiscal year began July 1, and bids on bridge projects statewide have been lower than expectations. With that, the Indiana Department of Transportation has committed extra funding to Wayne County bridge projects.

First, unexpected concrete patching drove the cost of the South G Street bridge in Richmond about $800,000 beyond the budget. With INDOT providing no extra funding, the county explored ways to decrease the project’s cost, such as eliminating a safety fence.

Sanders said INDOT now will pay 80% of the overrun if the county agrees to the original project scope, including the fence. The county, which had been on the hook for the entire overrun, will still pay $160,000.

Commissioners unanimously voted to accept INDOT’s contribution and restore the project’s scope.

INDOT also is providing an additional $230,000 for the Sample Road bridge project, Sanders said. A revised project estimate was $640,000 beyond the budgeted amount in the $2 million project. Sanders had previously told commissioners that bids were about $110,000 less than expected, and now INDOT is chipping in extra money.

Commissioners also unanimously approved the construction inspection contracts for two Richmond Avenue bridges. INDOT will pay 80% of the $209,000 for one bridge, leaving the county to pay $41,800 for that bridge and the entire $34,000 cost for the other bridge.

Cyberattacks

During the quarterly meeting with department heads and elected officials, Craig Eason, the county’s IT director, talked about cyberattacks shutting down Clay and Monroe counties’ technology.

Eason stressed that county employees must defend against email phishing and suggested the county consider how to conduct business if a cyberattack was successful.

“Can we still run the county without technology?” he asked.

Eason said that in 30 days there were 78,000 emails delivered to county accounts and 23,000 were identified as a threat. In addition, malware defense blocked 56,000 threats, Eason said.

Other actions

• Commissioners awarded a bid to B&B Construction for $18,900 to demolish and clean up a Williamsburg property that has been declared unsafe. The property at 6341 Edwards St. includes a dilapidated residence, overgrowth, two deteriorated boats and a front-loader.
• Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with the Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau for the ongoing mural competition. Through the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program, the county is contributing $75,000 toward the $115,000 project that will provide 11 murals throughout the county.
• Commissioner Brad Dwenger asked that commissioners support him speaking in support of the Smith Hill planned unit development along South 37th Street in Richmond during that night’s Richmond Advisory Plan Commission meeting. Commissioners unanimously gave support, noting that the project would help address a countywide housing shortage.