Highway department issues top commissioners’ agenda

A number of issues involving the Pulaski County Highway Department were addressed by the Pulaski County Commissioners during a regular session on Monday.

County highway department superintendent Terry Ruff first gave the commissioners some information regarding frost laws. He had examples of what other counties use. The information will be given to the county attorney Kevin Tankersley, who was not present at the meeting.

Commissioner Larry Brady and Ruff discussed one of the county roads that has failed because of a rusted culvert. Ruff said the plan is for the road to be repaired on Wednesday.

“Farmers - everybody needs that road now, so we’ve got to get it open as soon as we can,” Ruff said.

Ruff also questioned how much coverage the county should obtain on the highway department equipment. Brady suggested that if it is an important piece of equipment, such as the bucket truck, or used daily, then full insurance coverage should be obtained.

There was also a question if military equipment is available. Ruff would like a few more dump trucks. Brady said the program is still available but is not pursued as strongly as the previous sheriff. Sheriff Jeff Richwine said there is a service truck currently being borrowed by another county. Ruff said he would like to see it. The other county has spent about $2,000 on the truck so the county would need to decide how to reimburse that county.

One of the final issues was whether a lane leading to a house was considered a road. Commissioner Terry Young said it is not a road and the county does not have to maintain it. If the county were to maintain the road, it would need to meet certain specifications. A question was also made by commissioner Bud Krohn Jr. regarding a tile. At this time the county does not have any record of it belonging to the county although the county has been working with the property owner to fix a drainage problem.

In other business:

• Jeff Larrison, of United Consulting, approached the commissioners to re-sign paperwork regarding the county bridge inspections. Larrison said the mileage reimbursement has changed, requiring the language of the contract to change. The re-signing of the contract was approved.

• Kris Smith from Copiers Plus said the county might be able to save money with a new contract regarding the black and white copiers. The new contract would lock the price in for five years. The new contract was approved. Garling said the county has saved a large amount of money because of the new color contract that was adopted last year.

• Conference requests made by EMA director Sheryl Gaillard and Garling were approved.

• Minutes from the Sept. 8 and Sept. 21 commissioners’ meetings and the memorandum from an executive session on Sept. 30 were approved.