County engineering department turning attention to winter

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

Fall is just over a month old, but Henry County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss said his department is planning for winter.

?We?re getting some things ready for winter,? Hotchkiss told the Henry County Board of Supervisors during the board?s regular meeting Tuesday.

He said secondary-roads department workers were cleaning the trucks last week and putting concrete tools away for the winter. The county?s salt shed, Hotchkiss noted, is full in anticipation of winter snow and ice.

Mowing operations also are moving into the final stages. The county mows ditches along gravel and paved roads twice a year, and the engineer said the second pass has been completed on all paved roads and the second round of mowing on gravel roads is being completed.

In miscellaneous and construction news, Hickory Avenue is now open to the public, Hotchkiss commented, and 140th Avenue was to have been closed Tuesday for bridge removal and installation of a culvert to replace the bridge. ?Hopefully, they will be doing some (concrete) pouring later in the week (on 140th Street).?

Hotchkiss also remarked that he is continuing to work on the design for the final mile of the 220th Street (Winfield Avenue) reconstruction project set for next summer. The county and city are working on a 28E agreement to move forward with the project. However, the 28E agreement is still in the negotiations stage.

?We?re in a holding pattern, and I am getting antsy,? he said regarding the 220th Street project. ?I want to get that checked off the list.?

In his weekly report, Hotchkiss said secondary-roads department workers last week completed a ditching project east of Lowell on county road J20; poured a concrete patch on Racine Avenue north of Mt. Union; continued mowing shoulders along roads; and began some trimming around guardrails.

The only other agenda item had the supervisors approving continuing its contract with Carosh. Carosh is an agency that ensures county policies are in compliance with HIPPA requirements.

?Now we have to hire experts to bring us up to date,? Supervisor Chairman Gary See stated.

Supervisors will meet again in regular session Thursday, Nov. 3, at 9 a.m. in the Henry County Courthouse.