Wayne County vacates Williamsburg alley

An alley in Williamsburg will now be split between North Centerville Road neighbors.

During their Sept. 17 meeting, Wayne County’s commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance vacating the 165-foot-long and 10-foot-wide alley at the request of Daryll and Lilah Webb. The Webbs’ request had received a favorable recommendation from the Wayne County Advisory Plan Commission.

The Webbs and their neighbors would each add 5 feet of the alley’s width to their properties. The Webbs said they wanted the extra land because the neighbors park in the alley within inches of their home at 8190 N. Centerville Road. Law enforcement has authority to stop anyone from parking on their property, including the new land, but not on a public alley.

Commissioners confirmed that utility easements would remain if they vacated the alley. 

Daryll Webb said the vacation “will make a big difference for us.” No one else spoke during the ordinance’s public hearing.

Other issues

• Nexus Group of Zionsville bid $898,000 to provide cyclical property reassessment services for the next four years. The total is the same as Nexus’ bid for 2022 through 2025. There were no other bidders, and the Nexus bid was taken under advisement.
• A $172,105.84 change order for concrete patching and repair on the South G Street bridge was approved 3-0 by commissioners. The work was part of an overall repair project on the bridge. Safety fencing is currently being installed to complete that project.
• Commissioners appointed Matthew Berger, who farms near Fountain City, to the county’s Advisory Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals. He will finish the term of his father, Don Berger, who has resigned.
• Ron Cross, the county attorney, was authorized by a 3-0 vote to file a complaint in court to acquire a non-deeded property for right-of-way on the upcoming Waterfall Road bridge replacement.
• Commissioners approved 3-0 a change order to deduct $16,871.50 from the cost of Carroll Electric installing a Wayne County Administration Building generator, putting the contract cost at $232,328.50. The county sustained damage when power was lost during the project.