Vehicles navigate around the construction barrels on Buckeye Street, where construction on a road project was halted over two weeks ago. At right is some of the storm sewer pipe that will be laid under the road surface.—Staff Photos by Bryce Mayer
For over two weeks, work has been stopped on a $1.7 million road project on Buckeye Street, a busy thoroughfare in North Vernon.
The delay will last longer as HWC Engineering personnel change the design for the project because of unforeseen problems involving electrical utility poles.
Duke Energy is now requiring that excavation for the installation of new storm sewers under the street be at least 10 feet away from utility poles that hold electrical lines on the south side of the roadway.
Duke approved the work plan earlier this year, but two weeks ago it informed the city, FPBH, HWC and Milestone, the contractor for the project, of the new requirement, according to officials.
"That has created some real challenges," said Brad Bender of FPBH during a special meeting of the city's Board of Public Works (BPW) Friday to address the issues. "We are offering some solutions that we think will work without going over budget."
Part of the solution the BPW agreed upon was to close both lanes of Buckeye Street during construction. By doing that and making other minor changes, the city will not have to pay an extra $60,000 that HWC engineers estimate it would cost.
No date has been set for when Buckeye Street will be closed. Officials said it will be within the next few weeks and the public will get ample advance warning.
With the school year nearing an end, that often leads to a little mischievousness by restless students who are extra excited about the coming summer break.
JCHS Principal Dustin Roller said it best. If it wasn't for the generosity of donors, the annual Senior Awards Program held at the high school wouldn't be much of an event.
Jennings County's track and field girls were impressive in taking the team title at the Seymour Sectional Tuesday.
First it was the cold and the snow and then came the drenching rains. But even though 2019 has not been kind to contractors trying to reach their set timetables, construction of the new Tripton Park "visitors center" should be completed in plenty of time before the grand opening of the facility in August.
Holiday means earlier deadlines Because of next week's Memorial Day holiday, deadlines have been moved up earlier than usual for next week's editions of The Sun and Plain Dealer.
Boys track place a strong 2nd in sectional The Jennings County High School boys track and field team placed second at Friday's weather-delayed sectional at Bedford North Lawrence.
Alisa Gasper, a current member of the Jennings County Community Foundation Board, talks with Dan Baugh, the first JCCF Board president, at Saturday's 25th anniversary Gala. More photos will be in next week's Plain Dealer.-Staff Photo by Bryce Mayer
