In an effort to protect local infrastructure from heavy construction traffic, Marshall County officials are working to implement a stricter Road Use Agreement with the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO).
During Monday's County Commissioners meeting, Highway Superintendent Jason Peters and County Attorney Sean Surrisi discussed the need for the modified agreement ahead of a major upcoming utility project. NIPSCO is preparing to transfer high-power transmission lines to newly installed towers, stretching from the Thorn Road area up to the Burr Oak Substation.
While helicopters will be used for portions of the line transfers, the project will also involve multiple subcontractors utilizing large trucks to assist with stretching and moving the lines.
Peters expressed concern over potential road damage, referencing previous issues the county faced when PAR Electrical Contractors installed the newer, larger transmission towers a few years ago. To prevent a repeat of past damage, Peters and Surrisi are pushing to modify the county's standard Road Use Agreement.
Specifically, Peters took issue with the standard contract language, which simply requires roads to be returned to a state "as good as, or better than" their original condition.
"How do you put something back as good as it is?" Peters asked the commissioners, noting that several roads in the project area are currently in excellent shape. He emphasized that he wants the agreement to require full replacement rather than allowing contractors to leave a patchwork of repairs.
"I'm just trying to be very protective of what we’ve got," Peters added.
To ensure accountability, the Highway Department plans to document the current condition of the affected roads using video before any work begins.
Surrisi noted that while the current phase of work only extends to the Burr Oak Substation, NIPSCO has indicated the project will eventually continue toward Leesburg, meaning more county roads will be impacted in the future.
Because NIPSCO is eager to begin work, the commissioners agreed to expedite the approval process. They authorized Surrisi and Peters to draft the modified document, which will be circulated to the commissioners individually for early approval next week. The board will then formally ratify the agreement at their next public meeting on Monday, April 20.
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