Wayne County engineer reports road repairs and equipment replacement; sheriff flags potential change to inmate health services

County Engineer Dillon Davenport briefed the Wayne County Board of Supervisors on road and equipment matters at the May 14 meeting. Davenport said crews inspected a used semi at auction as a replacement for a semi wrecked west of Corydon; the wrecked vehicle will be cannibalized for parts if the purchase proceeds. He reported that a culvert northwest of Lineville collapsed after heavy rain and that the repair is estimated to exceed $100,000 and likely will be let next fiscal year. Crews are hauling rock to roads impacted by flooding; the bridge deck on 105th Street near Allerton is ready for concrete pending favorable weather; tree grinding is ongoing; a traffic study has begun; and dust-control applications are planned for early June.

Sheriff Davis reported ongoing water intrusion into the sheriff’s office basement following heavy rain and raised operational concerns about health services: he said Advanced Correctional Health Services is making program changes in coming months that may limit the sheriff’s ability to use Wayne County Public Health Nursing services for inmates. Davis said he is exploring local alternatives; no formal action was taken at the meeting.

Why this matters: the road repairs and equipment decisions affect county maintenance budgets and service delivery; a potential reduction in correctional health services could require the sheriff to secure alternate medical or nursing support for inmates.