County highway official updates commissioners on Bridge 231 historic-nomination and equipment needs

A county highway representative reported to commissioners that the county received a Dec. 11, 2025, notice from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources that Bridge 231 had been nominated for the National Register of Historic Places. The county’s preservation staff prepared an objection response and requested the nominator attend the Review Board meeting; the board voted in favor of the nomination at its Jan. 14, 2026 meeting. The county is awaiting a memo from NDOT that would officially reclassify the bridge and expects any reclassification recommendation may be reviewed by the Federal Highway Administration, which could overrule or modify the state recommendation.

The highway update also covered routine winter work—plowing, treating roads, pushing snowdrifts, patching and brush cutting—plus upcoming bridge inspections scheduled through 2029. Staff described recent equipment repairs driven by weather, said pickup trucks purchased during COVID-era shortages have significant wear and tear, and requested permission to begin pricing replacement of three pickups for use by highway crews; commissioners agreed to proceed with cost estimates and a procurement plan.

The report concluded with a reminder of a February 4 quarterly Zoom meeting and a brief inventory of other routine projects (striping, roadwork, gravel work).