Owen County to solicit bids for culvert and ditching work, details CCMG road plans
July 17, 2026 | Owen County, Indiana
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Owen County commissioners voted to solicit bids for culvert and ditching work on Sherfield, Macville and Howard Road and heard an update on chip-seal and CCMG-funded paving plans.
The action, approved unanimously, directs the county highway superintendent to send request-for-bid materials to contractors so the county can gather prices for ditching and culvert replacement before deciding which roads to pave. Chair (speaker 3) made the motion and it passed 3-0.
Why it matters: County staff said proper ditching and culvert work must precede paving to avoid wasting funds. Chad Walker, who the meeting identified as the county highway contact, told commissioners the county has secured CCMG funding for some projects and is assembling a separate list of roads that can be paved outside CCMG rules. "We got money," Walker said when discussing recent CCMG awards, and he outlined next steps to obtain quotes and bids.
During the discussion, staff described limitations on CCMG funding: CCMG money applies only to hard-surface roads (not gravel), so some candidate roads will require other funding or a separate procurement. Commissioners said they will prioritize culvert and ditching work so paved sections will remain serviceable.
Other highway items discussed included a planned closure: CountryMark will close Dutch Bethel Road for major gas-line repairs starting Monday the 20th and the department will provide detour information. Walker also outlined equipment needs, including a search for a bucket truck to assist paving crews and trimming; commissioners authorized staff to explore procurement and vendor contacts.
What happens next: Highway staff will compile quotes on culvert/ditching work, post the requests for bids for the three named roads, and return with cost estimates. The board scheduled follow-up work sessions and an executive meeting for July 30 where longer-term priorities will be discussed.
The motion to send the culvert/ditching bids was recorded as passing unanimously.
The action, approved unanimously, directs the county highway superintendent to send request-for-bid materials to contractors so the county can gather prices for ditching and culvert replacement before deciding which roads to pave. Chair (speaker 3) made the motion and it passed 3-0.
Why it matters: County staff said proper ditching and culvert work must precede paving to avoid wasting funds. Chad Walker, who the meeting identified as the county highway contact, told commissioners the county has secured CCMG funding for some projects and is assembling a separate list of roads that can be paved outside CCMG rules. "We got money," Walker said when discussing recent CCMG awards, and he outlined next steps to obtain quotes and bids.
During the discussion, staff described limitations on CCMG funding: CCMG money applies only to hard-surface roads (not gravel), so some candidate roads will require other funding or a separate procurement. Commissioners said they will prioritize culvert and ditching work so paved sections will remain serviceable.
Other highway items discussed included a planned closure: CountryMark will close Dutch Bethel Road for major gas-line repairs starting Monday the 20th and the department will provide detour information. Walker also outlined equipment needs, including a search for a bucket truck to assist paving crews and trimming; commissioners authorized staff to explore procurement and vendor contacts.
What happens next: Highway staff will compile quotes on culvert/ditching work, post the requests for bids for the three named roads, and return with cost estimates. The board scheduled follow-up work sessions and an executive meeting for July 30 where longer-term priorities will be discussed.
The motion to send the culvert/ditching bids was recorded as passing unanimously.
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