Morgan County looks ahead to winter snow removal

While winter is several months away, the Morgan County Board of Commissioners are making plans for snow removal.

During its meeting Monday, Aug. 15, the commissioners approved allowing the county highway department to advertise for bids from private contractors to clear the roads of snow in several areas of the county.

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According to the department, private contractors with smaller vehicles can do the job better compared to the department, which uses large heavy vehicles.

Over the years, the county has had to pay for damaged mailboxes and have received complaints from residents who had snow piled in their driveways.

It is hoped having contractors with smaller vehicles plow some roadways will eliminate damaged mailboxes and reduce the amount of snow in driveways.

Last year, the county attempted to use private contractors but were unsuccessful in finding enough who were interested in doing the work.

The county made changes this year to the bid package. The contract will be three years in length, which will give contractors time to recover funds spent on equipment.

The bids are due by 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 19, and will be opened at the commissioner meeting that is scheduled for Sept. 19.

There are 41 subdivisions on the county's list, which will have their snow removed by a private contractor.

Other business

The commissioners approved the financial commitment letter for a Community Crossing Matching Grant program to pay for repaving completed in 2023.

The board approved a take-home vehicle request for a county highway employee.

It approved the 2022 contract with the Morgan County Fair and 4-H board, which allows the fair to receive $125,000 for fair activities.

The board approved quotes from West Central Asphalt to repair the parking lots at the administration building, the courthouse, and the coroner's office.

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First Impression Driveways was awarded the contract to repair the central dispatch center's parking lot.

Commissioners approved sending the council a letter asking for around $1.7 million to conduct a study on the county's water aquifer. If approved, the funds will come from the ARPA Local Fiscal Recover Fund.

The next scheduled meeting of the Morgan County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at the Morgan County Administration Building, 180 S. Main St, Martinsville.

This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Morgan County looks ahead to winter snow removal