Starke County Highway Department Assessing Culvert Collapse

Posted on July 3, 2019
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

The culvert collapse on County Road 700 East between County Road 600 North and County Road 750 North in Starke County is still under assessment.

Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the Starke County Commissioners Monday night that he and County Surveyor Bill Crase are monitoring the site.

Mark Wilson from Jones, Petrie and Rafinski looked at the issue the day it occurred and delivered four recommendations for repair.

Ritzler said Wilson’s recommendation is a bridge replacement project.

“The pros on that are a long life span, it’s easy to maintain, and has the best bank stabilization,” said Ritzler.  “The problems are it’s expensive, and the road would be closed for most of the fall school semester near Oregon-Davis and the Oregon-Davis buses use that route.”

The cost would be somewhere between $300,000 to $350,000.

Other types of repair include a modular bridge, aluminum box culvert and twin culverts.  These are less expensive options, but Ritzler is going wait to make a decision.

“I’m going to wait until those estimates come in.  I’m going to recommend we do that and then at the next meeting I’ll come and make a recommendation and we can go from there. How’s that?”

Commission President Charlie Chesak and Commission Bryan Cavendar replied, “Sounds good!”

For now, the road remains closed.

Starke County Gets a Portion of FEMA Reimbursement

Posted on April 16, 2019
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

Starke County recently received a portion of reimbursement funds from last year’s flooding event.

Starke County Surveyor Bill Crase informed the county council Monday night that about $46,700 was deposited to the General Fund, but it needs to be appropriated into the current assessment funds.  The council received the paperwork outlining the disbursements and approved the request with a unanimous vote.

Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said his department is still speaking to FEMA representatives about a large reimbursement from work done to roads and infrastructure after the flooding incident in late February in 2018.  Ritzler said he anticipates about $300,000 in reimbursement funds, but a final figure will be released soon.