Posted on December 6, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Highway Department anticipates more reimbursement funds from the February flooding event to come in from FEMA.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said the county received about $13,000 for the debris removal portion of the reimbursement requests from the federal agency.
“They just asked for more information last week,” commented Ritzler. “They asked for more maintenance records for the roads. They’ve approved about half of ours and they just wanted to get more of the records on some of the others. Rachel [Oesterrich, Office Manager] was scrambling the last week-and-a-half like we all were and get the records. We turned them in on Friday.”
Ritzler said much more money should be coming in once they approve this last round of requested paperwork.
Showing posts with label Starke County Highway Department. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Starke County Highway Department. Show all posts
Thursday, December 6, 2018
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Marshall County Highway Department Agrees to Sell Equipment to Starke County
Posted on December 5, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Two pieces of equipment from the Marshall County Highway Department will be added to the fleet at the Starke County Highway Department.
Marshall County Highway Supervisor Jason Peters told the commissioners Monday morning that Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler made an offer for the outgoing chipper box and distributor.
“They offered us $60,000 for the two,” said Peters. “Now, with us trading them in with Southeastern I think they were going to give us $18,000 for our distributor and $20,000 for our chipper box. I think it’s a pretty good deal to sell with them (Starke County), plus it keeps that working relationship with the adjacent county, you could say. We’ve done some sealing down there in the past so they know exactly what the machines are and we’ve borrowed machines from them from time to time as well.”
Marshall County will be getting a new chipper box and distributor as approved by the commissioners in November. The chipper box was quoted at $313,500 while the distributor truck was at $227,800 from Southeastern.
A chipper box aids in the chip sealing process as well as spraying emulsion and putting down stone. A distributor truck helps with fog sealing chip sealed roads.
Marshall County Attorney Jim Clevenger said the purchase could be handled through an intergovernmental resolution.
The commissioners approved the sale of the equipment to the Starke County Highway Department.
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler presented the negotiation to the Starke County Commissioners who agreed that it would be a great addition to the fleet.
“We originally wanted to buy new ones, but because of the flooding damage and other things we had to delay that a little bit,” stated Ritzler. “They’re (Marshall County) working up the agreement now. They’re county lawyer is doing that. Once they do that, I’ll forward it to you guys and you can vote on that at the next meeting, hopefully. It’s $425,000 for two new ones and $60,000 for those. They’ll last for at least five to 10 years as they’re in good shape. We use them now. I would recommend that purchase, but I’ll know better when we have the agreement.”
Ritzler will obtain comparable quotes for the equipment at the time they were manufactured just to have supplemental documentation.
The Starke County Commissioners will review the documentation at their Dec. 17 meeting.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Two pieces of equipment from the Marshall County Highway Department will be added to the fleet at the Starke County Highway Department.
Marshall County Highway Supervisor Jason Peters told the commissioners Monday morning that Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler made an offer for the outgoing chipper box and distributor.
“They offered us $60,000 for the two,” said Peters. “Now, with us trading them in with Southeastern I think they were going to give us $18,000 for our distributor and $20,000 for our chipper box. I think it’s a pretty good deal to sell with them (Starke County), plus it keeps that working relationship with the adjacent county, you could say. We’ve done some sealing down there in the past so they know exactly what the machines are and we’ve borrowed machines from them from time to time as well.”
Marshall County will be getting a new chipper box and distributor as approved by the commissioners in November. The chipper box was quoted at $313,500 while the distributor truck was at $227,800 from Southeastern.
A chipper box aids in the chip sealing process as well as spraying emulsion and putting down stone. A distributor truck helps with fog sealing chip sealed roads.
Marshall County Attorney Jim Clevenger said the purchase could be handled through an intergovernmental resolution.
The commissioners approved the sale of the equipment to the Starke County Highway Department.
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler presented the negotiation to the Starke County Commissioners who agreed that it would be a great addition to the fleet.
“We originally wanted to buy new ones, but because of the flooding damage and other things we had to delay that a little bit,” stated Ritzler. “They’re (Marshall County) working up the agreement now. They’re county lawyer is doing that. Once they do that, I’ll forward it to you guys and you can vote on that at the next meeting, hopefully. It’s $425,000 for two new ones and $60,000 for those. They’ll last for at least five to 10 years as they’re in good shape. We use them now. I would recommend that purchase, but I’ll know better when we have the agreement.”
Ritzler will obtain comparable quotes for the equipment at the time they were manufactured just to have supplemental documentation.
The Starke County Commissioners will review the documentation at their Dec. 17 meeting.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Starke County Highway Department Ready for Winter Weather
Posted on November 13, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Several training opportunities in October have proved successful for the crews at the Starke County Highway Department. Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the Starke County Commissioners that the snow plow drivers brushed up on skills and new drivers took in new information presented by Mark Ennis of Bliss-McKnight.
“Eleven of our drivers went to the IPEP safety training in Plymouth,” explained Ritzler. “We sent the newest drivers because there was winter weather safety, distracted driving, hazard awareness and other safety topics. We had the driving simulator at our garage for a few days. All of our drivers did that. They love doing that. He brings a different program every year. It’s kind of like playing video games and training at the same time. He also taught a winter snow plow training class that he does every year. The drivers enjoy him. They really relate with him.”
Meanwhile, residents should be prepared when the snow starts to gather on public roadways. If snow is in the forecast, prepare to leave for your destination a little earlier in order to allow extra time to drive on hazardous roads.
Put together an emergency preparedness kit for every vehicle. A few suggested items for kits include extra blankets, non-perishable food, jumper cables and spare clothes. Schedule an appointment with a mechanic for a thorough check of each vehicle before a winter storm hits, especially the brakes, battery and tires.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Several training opportunities in October have proved successful for the crews at the Starke County Highway Department. Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the Starke County Commissioners that the snow plow drivers brushed up on skills and new drivers took in new information presented by Mark Ennis of Bliss-McKnight.
“Eleven of our drivers went to the IPEP safety training in Plymouth,” explained Ritzler. “We sent the newest drivers because there was winter weather safety, distracted driving, hazard awareness and other safety topics. We had the driving simulator at our garage for a few days. All of our drivers did that. They love doing that. He brings a different program every year. It’s kind of like playing video games and training at the same time. He also taught a winter snow plow training class that he does every year. The drivers enjoy him. They really relate with him.”
Meanwhile, residents should be prepared when the snow starts to gather on public roadways. If snow is in the forecast, prepare to leave for your destination a little earlier in order to allow extra time to drive on hazardous roads.
Put together an emergency preparedness kit for every vehicle. A few suggested items for kits include extra blankets, non-perishable food, jumper cables and spare clothes. Schedule an appointment with a mechanic for a thorough check of each vehicle before a winter storm hits, especially the brakes, battery and tires.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Starke County Highway Department Completes 2018 Paving Program
Posted on October 9, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Highway Department wrapped up its scheduled 2018 paving season in September.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the Starke County Commissioners it was a rather busy month with nearly several miles of operations complete.
“We completed just about 53 miles,” said Ritzler. “We started crack sealing and we’ll be doing about 10 miles of that on some of our hot mix asphalt roads. So, we’ll end up with just a little more than 62 miles done this year. We did more cold mix asphalt than we thought we were going to because of the flooding. We did 26 miles of that and we reduced our chip sealing a little bit. We spent over just about $1.1 million in road improvements this year. People ask where the money goes and that’s exactly where it goes.”
Ritzler said October is the month for training as the winter season approaches.
“On Oct. 17, there’s in IPEP Safety Training. We send all of our new drivers to that. We’re sending 11 this year. Mark Ennis of Bliss McKnight will be bringing the driving simulator with a special winter plowing program on it this year and he will also be doing the winter snow plow safety. We will also have LTAP coming down to do that. He’s more liability side and LTAP Purdue is more actual hands-on operations part of the snow plow training.”
Seven employees are also attending the LTAP Road Scholar Class.
Ritzler stressed that the $10,000 extra they do in training each year saves the county hundreds of thousands of dollars in the long run.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Highway Department wrapped up its scheduled 2018 paving season in September.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the Starke County Commissioners it was a rather busy month with nearly several miles of operations complete.
“We completed just about 53 miles,” said Ritzler. “We started crack sealing and we’ll be doing about 10 miles of that on some of our hot mix asphalt roads. So, we’ll end up with just a little more than 62 miles done this year. We did more cold mix asphalt than we thought we were going to because of the flooding. We did 26 miles of that and we reduced our chip sealing a little bit. We spent over just about $1.1 million in road improvements this year. People ask where the money goes and that’s exactly where it goes.”
Ritzler said October is the month for training as the winter season approaches.
“On Oct. 17, there’s in IPEP Safety Training. We send all of our new drivers to that. We’re sending 11 this year. Mark Ennis of Bliss McKnight will be bringing the driving simulator with a special winter plowing program on it this year and he will also be doing the winter snow plow safety. We will also have LTAP coming down to do that. He’s more liability side and LTAP Purdue is more actual hands-on operations part of the snow plow training.”
Seven employees are also attending the LTAP Road Scholar Class.
Ritzler stressed that the $10,000 extra they do in training each year saves the county hundreds of thousands of dollars in the long run.
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Officials Cut Ribbon on Starke County Forest Upgrades
Posted on October 4, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Starke County officials hope that recent upgrades to the County Forest will help attract new visitors. County Park Board members and Community Foundation representatives joined Forester Bruce Wakeland, Commissioner Kathy Norem, and several others Wednesday afternoon, to cut the ribbon on the forest’s upgraded access road.
This summer, the Starke County Highway Department upgraded the old access trail into a gravel road. It features a cul-de-sac for parking, with a native plant garden being developed in the middle.
County Attorney Marty Lucas explained that the bulk of the cost was covered by a grant from the Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund. “The grant was $15,200, and the funds were also supplemented with additional money from the trust fund for the forest here that Bruce maintains by timber sale, so the property also supported some of it,” Lucas said. “And then I think the commissioners also provided some additional funds for the road installation.”
Starke County Park Board President Roger Chaffins credited Lucas for helping the park board get the grant. “Marty did 90 percent of the work on this on his own, and I’m proud of what he did and proud of what we’ve got here,” Chaffins said. “And it’s going to improve the park use, I hope, for everybody, so everybody knows where it’s at now.”
The forest entrance is located in the area of 10655 East Division Road, although the property extends a mile south to State Road 8. Forester Bruce Wakeland said that having the entrance on the smaller county road has a couple of advantages: the safety when it comes to getting in and out of the property and the proximity of the entrance to the forest’s major features, like the marsh and observation tower. He said the upgrade was a great feature that was really needed, noting that he was surprised at how quickly the original parking lot became overwhelmed.
Northern Indiana Community Foundation Executive Director Jay Albright echoed that sentiment. “This is so welcoming, compared to the way the drive and stuff went through before,” he said. Albright also encouraged anyone who hasn’t hiked through the County Forest to put that on their to-do list.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Starke County officials hope that recent upgrades to the County Forest will help attract new visitors. County Park Board members and Community Foundation representatives joined Forester Bruce Wakeland, Commissioner Kathy Norem, and several others Wednesday afternoon, to cut the ribbon on the forest’s upgraded access road.
This summer, the Starke County Highway Department upgraded the old access trail into a gravel road. It features a cul-de-sac for parking, with a native plant garden being developed in the middle.
County Attorney Marty Lucas explained that the bulk of the cost was covered by a grant from the Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund. “The grant was $15,200, and the funds were also supplemented with additional money from the trust fund for the forest here that Bruce maintains by timber sale, so the property also supported some of it,” Lucas said. “And then I think the commissioners also provided some additional funds for the road installation.”
Starke County Park Board President Roger Chaffins credited Lucas for helping the park board get the grant. “Marty did 90 percent of the work on this on his own, and I’m proud of what he did and proud of what we’ve got here,” Chaffins said. “And it’s going to improve the park use, I hope, for everybody, so everybody knows where it’s at now.”
The forest entrance is located in the area of 10655 East Division Road, although the property extends a mile south to State Road 8. Forester Bruce Wakeland said that having the entrance on the smaller county road has a couple of advantages: the safety when it comes to getting in and out of the property and the proximity of the entrance to the forest’s major features, like the marsh and observation tower. He said the upgrade was a great feature that was really needed, noting that he was surprised at how quickly the original parking lot became overwhelmed.
Northern Indiana Community Foundation Executive Director Jay Albright echoed that sentiment. “This is so welcoming, compared to the way the drive and stuff went through before,” he said. Albright also encouraged anyone who hasn’t hiked through the County Forest to put that on their to-do list.
Friday, September 7, 2018
Commissioners Discuss Construction of New Building for Recycling Efforts
Posted on September 7, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Commissioners are considering the construction of a new building to house the Starke County Environmental Management Agency.
The building would be constructed on the northwest portion of property that is home to the Starke County Highway Department. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler submitted figures for a new well or tie-in to the existing well, a new entrance with new culvert, septic installation, and fencing at a preliminary cost of nearly $27,500. If an automated gate can be installed, the estimated cost would be nearly $28,700.
These estimates are in addition to the construction of a new building.
Commissioner Kathy Norem, who serves on the Solid Waste Board along with Commissioners Don Binkley and Charlie Chesak and other appointees, said the board members are looking at this option as the cost of recycling will increase dramatically.
“The Solid Waste Board has to look at what options we have at this point because we can no longer afford, with the present stream of revenue, to keep all of the recycling bins out,” explained Norem. “So, our options would be, which we really didn’t discuss, to increase the tax to the people or to consolidate into one focal point where people could bring their true recyclables – because a lot of the problem is the bins are being contaminated.”
A separate building placed at the highway garage would allow Director Carrie Trent-Kuchel to better police what items are being deposited into the recycling bins, especially with an automated gate.
According to preliminary talks, the commissioners would fund the construction costs to build the building and then lease it to the Solid Waste District.
The commissioners did unanimously approve a motion to move forward with discussions concerning this option rather than raising taxes. More will be reviewed at the next Solid Waste Board on Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the meeting room in the Starke County Annex Building No. 1 at 53 E. Mound Street in Knox.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Commissioners are considering the construction of a new building to house the Starke County Environmental Management Agency.
The building would be constructed on the northwest portion of property that is home to the Starke County Highway Department. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler submitted figures for a new well or tie-in to the existing well, a new entrance with new culvert, septic installation, and fencing at a preliminary cost of nearly $27,500. If an automated gate can be installed, the estimated cost would be nearly $28,700.
These estimates are in addition to the construction of a new building.
Commissioner Kathy Norem, who serves on the Solid Waste Board along with Commissioners Don Binkley and Charlie Chesak and other appointees, said the board members are looking at this option as the cost of recycling will increase dramatically.
“The Solid Waste Board has to look at what options we have at this point because we can no longer afford, with the present stream of revenue, to keep all of the recycling bins out,” explained Norem. “So, our options would be, which we really didn’t discuss, to increase the tax to the people or to consolidate into one focal point where people could bring their true recyclables – because a lot of the problem is the bins are being contaminated.”
A separate building placed at the highway garage would allow Director Carrie Trent-Kuchel to better police what items are being deposited into the recycling bins, especially with an automated gate.
According to preliminary talks, the commissioners would fund the construction costs to build the building and then lease it to the Solid Waste District.
The commissioners did unanimously approve a motion to move forward with discussions concerning this option rather than raising taxes. More will be reviewed at the next Solid Waste Board on Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the meeting room in the Starke County Annex Building No. 1 at 53 E. Mound Street in Knox.
Friday, August 17, 2018
Starke County Forest Access Road Upgrades Complete
Posted on August 16, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The Starke County Forest’s new access road is now complete. The County Highway Department recently upgraded the old access trail into a gravel road with a 10-to-12-car parking lot. The work was funded by a $15,000 grant from the Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the Starke County Park Board Tuesday that the cost of materials only ended up being a little over $7,000. He asked board members which of the project’s optional items they’d like to complete with the leftover money.
However, Board President Roger Chaffins said $7,000 will go to Bob Aloi with Territorial Engineering. Ritzler took issue with that amount. “He didn’t do the plans,” Ritzler said. “We told him. We outlined where it was supposed to be. We don’t him the depth of the thing. The only thing he was was the draftsman. If he charged $7,000 for that, that was a little too much.”
But Ritzler admitted that Aloi did handle the survey marks, and County Attorney Marty Lucas pointed out that the project had to go through the county’s zoning board. “That ended up being kind of time-consuming, I have to say. It took more of my time than I thought it was going to take, too,” Lucas said.
In spite of the engineering fee, the park board was able to include a few of the optional items. Board members agreed to add a $531 bike rack, as recommended by member Debbie Mix. “Because someone who’s going to walk the forest certainly would also be the same type of person that would be riding a bicycle there,” Mix said.
Other additional work will include more than $700 worth of signage in and around the forest, and a new gate to block access to the back of the forest, for just under $600. Since not all of that can be covered by the grant, the park board authorized up to $1,500 to be spent out of the dedicated forest fund. That money comes from the forest’s timber sales.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The Starke County Forest’s new access road is now complete. The County Highway Department recently upgraded the old access trail into a gravel road with a 10-to-12-car parking lot. The work was funded by a $15,000 grant from the Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the Starke County Park Board Tuesday that the cost of materials only ended up being a little over $7,000. He asked board members which of the project’s optional items they’d like to complete with the leftover money.
However, Board President Roger Chaffins said $7,000 will go to Bob Aloi with Territorial Engineering. Ritzler took issue with that amount. “He didn’t do the plans,” Ritzler said. “We told him. We outlined where it was supposed to be. We don’t him the depth of the thing. The only thing he was was the draftsman. If he charged $7,000 for that, that was a little too much.”
But Ritzler admitted that Aloi did handle the survey marks, and County Attorney Marty Lucas pointed out that the project had to go through the county’s zoning board. “That ended up being kind of time-consuming, I have to say. It took more of my time than I thought it was going to take, too,” Lucas said.
In spite of the engineering fee, the park board was able to include a few of the optional items. Board members agreed to add a $531 bike rack, as recommended by member Debbie Mix. “Because someone who’s going to walk the forest certainly would also be the same type of person that would be riding a bicycle there,” Mix said.
Other additional work will include more than $700 worth of signage in and around the forest, and a new gate to block access to the back of the forest, for just under $600. Since not all of that can be covered by the grant, the park board authorized up to $1,500 to be spent out of the dedicated forest fund. That money comes from the forest’s timber sales.
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Starke County Commissioners Approve Hamlet Paving Quote
Posted on August 14, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Highway Department presented to the county commissioners last week a quote for paving projects for the Town of Hamlet.
The Starke County Highway Department will pay for the labor and equipment for the road improvements while the Town of Hamlet will pay for cost of materials.
The initial estimate for the cold mix application is about $17,500 while the hot mix asphalt application is $30,600.
Work will be done on Maple from Plymouth to Oak, Madison from Hamlet to Main, Davis from Division to Lincoln, and Main from Terry to Madison.
Any work outside of the scope will need to be agreed upon by the Starke County Highway Superintendent and the Hamlet Street Supervisor.
The commissioners approved the quote with a unanimous vote.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Highway Department presented to the county commissioners last week a quote for paving projects for the Town of Hamlet.
The Starke County Highway Department will pay for the labor and equipment for the road improvements while the Town of Hamlet will pay for cost of materials.
The initial estimate for the cold mix application is about $17,500 while the hot mix asphalt application is $30,600.
Work will be done on Maple from Plymouth to Oak, Madison from Hamlet to Main, Davis from Division to Lincoln, and Main from Terry to Madison.
Any work outside of the scope will need to be agreed upon by the Starke County Highway Superintendent and the Hamlet Street Supervisor.
The commissioners approved the quote with a unanimous vote.
Thursday, July 5, 2018
Starke County Highway Department Anticipates Visit from FEMA
Posted on July 5, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
FEMA representatives will be visiting the Starke County Highway Department for a site visit next week to assess paperwork and damage repair from flooding that occurred in February.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the commissioners on Monday night that it should be a good visit.
“They will be meeting us at our office on July 10 at 10 a.m. CT,” said Ritzler. “We will know better then, but it’s optimistic. It looks like we’re getting a pretty good reimbursement. I hate to tell you how much because I’m not sure yet, but it sounds good.”
Ritzler said the crews are working hard to get repairs done prior to the visit.
“They revised our estimates. They told us that all of the work that we have completed already they’re not going to come and inspect. So, they’re only going to inspect the roads we haven’t done yet. We have been busy doing those roads. As of the phone call, we had about 60 percent of the road repairs completed. As of today, we’re about 75 percent. By the 10th, we hope to be at about 90 percent so they’ll only have a couple of roads to inspect.”
While Ritzler is hesitant to give out any reimbursement figures, he believes it will be healthy.
“We can either submit a reimbursement for direct administrative costs with the actual hours or five percent of our damages and our damages total almost $1 million. We’d get about $50,000 which is good. We put in a lot of time but not quite that much time so that could be a good reimbursement as well.”
The flooding event closed 63 miles of roads in Starke County while 18 culverts were damaged. Nine of those culverts are now repaired. No bridges were damaged.
With the department’s concentrated effort to complete flood damaged areas, normal paving operations are a bit delayed. Ritzler expects to turn to the second phase of paving in the next few days.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
FEMA representatives will be visiting the Starke County Highway Department for a site visit next week to assess paperwork and damage repair from flooding that occurred in February.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the commissioners on Monday night that it should be a good visit.
“They will be meeting us at our office on July 10 at 10 a.m. CT,” said Ritzler. “We will know better then, but it’s optimistic. It looks like we’re getting a pretty good reimbursement. I hate to tell you how much because I’m not sure yet, but it sounds good.”
Ritzler said the crews are working hard to get repairs done prior to the visit.
“They revised our estimates. They told us that all of the work that we have completed already they’re not going to come and inspect. So, they’re only going to inspect the roads we haven’t done yet. We have been busy doing those roads. As of the phone call, we had about 60 percent of the road repairs completed. As of today, we’re about 75 percent. By the 10th, we hope to be at about 90 percent so they’ll only have a couple of roads to inspect.”
While Ritzler is hesitant to give out any reimbursement figures, he believes it will be healthy.
“We can either submit a reimbursement for direct administrative costs with the actual hours or five percent of our damages and our damages total almost $1 million. We’d get about $50,000 which is good. We put in a lot of time but not quite that much time so that could be a good reimbursement as well.”
The flooding event closed 63 miles of roads in Starke County while 18 culverts were damaged. Nine of those culverts are now repaired. No bridges were damaged.
With the department’s concentrated effort to complete flood damaged areas, normal paving operations are a bit delayed. Ritzler expects to turn to the second phase of paving in the next few days.
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Starke County Park Board Updated on Bass Lake Beach Seawall Repairs
Posted on May 22, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Repairs to the Bass Lake Beach House seawall are getting underway. The Starke County Park Board has been working with Bass Lake Beach operator Callahan Development, LLC, as well as the County Highway Department, to fix the wall and try to prevent future damage.
During last week’s meeting, Park Board President Roger Chaffins said the stone and sand were about ready to be delivered to the site. “The wall had cracked down, and the water’s rushing in underneath the building and washing the sand out,” he explained. “They’re going to put rock out there and then put sand in there, and fix it back the way it should be.”
Bass Lake Beach Assistant Manager Larry Clarich explained that the stone will shore up the wall and help preserve the work that’s being done now. He agreed to work with Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler to coordinate the delivery of the stone. Meanwhile, Chaffins offered to ask Sheriff Bill Dulin about the possibility of getting jail inmates to help haul it in by hand.
The park board was recently awarded a $5,000 Community Support Grant from the Starke County Community Foundation, to help with the cost of materials.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Repairs to the Bass Lake Beach House seawall are getting underway. The Starke County Park Board has been working with Bass Lake Beach operator Callahan Development, LLC, as well as the County Highway Department, to fix the wall and try to prevent future damage.
During last week’s meeting, Park Board President Roger Chaffins said the stone and sand were about ready to be delivered to the site. “The wall had cracked down, and the water’s rushing in underneath the building and washing the sand out,” he explained. “They’re going to put rock out there and then put sand in there, and fix it back the way it should be.”
Bass Lake Beach Assistant Manager Larry Clarich explained that the stone will shore up the wall and help preserve the work that’s being done now. He agreed to work with Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler to coordinate the delivery of the stone. Meanwhile, Chaffins offered to ask Sheriff Bill Dulin about the possibility of getting jail inmates to help haul it in by hand.
The park board was recently awarded a $5,000 Community Support Grant from the Starke County Community Foundation, to help with the cost of materials.
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Starke County Highway Department Working to Patch Potholes
Posted on April 5, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Highway Department is working throughout the county to address pothole issues.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the Starke County Commissioners this week that they are trying to keep up with the potholes.
“We have a lot of potholes from the freeze/thaw cycle because of the excessive rain. It’s the perfect weather for potholes. We’ve been hitting it as hard as we possibly can. We’ve used 750 tons of patch. That’s 1.5 million pounds that has been shoveled out of the back of trucks. Hopefully, we’ll be caught up on these potholes and repairs by mid-summer. Please just be patient and if you notice a pothole call us and we’ll be right on it. We can’t get to everyone immediately, but we’re doing the best we can with that,” explained Ritzler.
Ritzler added that the summer road program will be adjusted due to flood damage.
“How much we do is dependent on when we get reimbursement for this, but we can cover all of the repairs for this and the repairs for the transmission lines in our current budget. It will move the list around a little bit, but we’ll just have to re-prioritize.”
Ritzler also mentioned that the railroad marking upgrades will be done starting in May. The county received a grant for the updates. Traffic Control Specialists will be completing the work.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Highway Department is working throughout the county to address pothole issues.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the Starke County Commissioners this week that they are trying to keep up with the potholes.
“We have a lot of potholes from the freeze/thaw cycle because of the excessive rain. It’s the perfect weather for potholes. We’ve been hitting it as hard as we possibly can. We’ve used 750 tons of patch. That’s 1.5 million pounds that has been shoveled out of the back of trucks. Hopefully, we’ll be caught up on these potholes and repairs by mid-summer. Please just be patient and if you notice a pothole call us and we’ll be right on it. We can’t get to everyone immediately, but we’re doing the best we can with that,” explained Ritzler.
Ritzler added that the summer road program will be adjusted due to flood damage.
“How much we do is dependent on when we get reimbursement for this, but we can cover all of the repairs for this and the repairs for the transmission lines in our current budget. It will move the list around a little bit, but we’ll just have to re-prioritize.”
Ritzler also mentioned that the railroad marking upgrades will be done starting in May. The county received a grant for the updates. Traffic Control Specialists will be completing the work.
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Starke County Highway Department Assessing Roads after Flood Event
Posted on March 7, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Crews from the Starke County Highway Department continue to assess road damage due to the recent flood event.
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the commissioners Monday night that the first stage of flood management is nearly complete.
“That was mostly damage prevention, safety precautions like the road closures and the bridge closures,” said Ritzler. “We closed two bridges for precautionary reasons on the Yellow River on 300 E. and 700 E. Both have been inspected by a bridge inspection engineer and are now open. At one point, we had 65 miles of roadways closed to traffic. We now have 26.”
The second phase of flood management includes assessing road damage and road repairs.
“Most of the bad damage is going to be where those 26 miles of roads are flooded now. We’ve already driven through them and we know they’re already torn up and we’ll have some major repairs to do. We don’t know the extent of that yet and we will know once the water is gone. I talked to [Starke County Surveyor] Bill Crase today and that flooding should be gone in about a week.”
Ritzler added that two large culverts have been replaced on 750 S. just east of 975 E. and 700 S. between 200 W. and 250 W.
The summer road improvement list will change drastically with all of the flood damage. Ritzler is concerned that flood waters may have deteriorated some bridges.
“They’re cleared now, but it may have accelerated some of that deterioration on those bridges. We will see when the formal inspections happen in October.
All townships in Starke County were involved in flood recovery.
When all of the damage is repaired, Ritzler estimates the cost of labor and material to be over $500,000, based on the FEMA reimbursement tables. All work will be carefully documented for FEMA reimbursement.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Crews from the Starke County Highway Department continue to assess road damage due to the recent flood event.
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the commissioners Monday night that the first stage of flood management is nearly complete.
“That was mostly damage prevention, safety precautions like the road closures and the bridge closures,” said Ritzler. “We closed two bridges for precautionary reasons on the Yellow River on 300 E. and 700 E. Both have been inspected by a bridge inspection engineer and are now open. At one point, we had 65 miles of roadways closed to traffic. We now have 26.”
The second phase of flood management includes assessing road damage and road repairs.
“Most of the bad damage is going to be where those 26 miles of roads are flooded now. We’ve already driven through them and we know they’re already torn up and we’ll have some major repairs to do. We don’t know the extent of that yet and we will know once the water is gone. I talked to [Starke County Surveyor] Bill Crase today and that flooding should be gone in about a week.”
Ritzler added that two large culverts have been replaced on 750 S. just east of 975 E. and 700 S. between 200 W. and 250 W.
The summer road improvement list will change drastically with all of the flood damage. Ritzler is concerned that flood waters may have deteriorated some bridges.
“They’re cleared now, but it may have accelerated some of that deterioration on those bridges. We will see when the formal inspections happen in October.
All townships in Starke County were involved in flood recovery.
When all of the damage is repaired, Ritzler estimates the cost of labor and material to be over $500,000, based on the FEMA reimbursement tables. All work will be carefully documented for FEMA reimbursement.
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Starke County Closing in on Zero Deficient Bridges
Posted on February 13, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Highway Department is working toward a goal of having zero deficient bridges in the county.
The effort has shown as there are only two that remain on the list. Referring to the Phase 2A report that pertains to bridge inspections, Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners they are mindful of a couple of areas to make sure they don’t worsen too quickly.
“One of the aluminum box culverts doesn’t need to be replaced, but we need to keep an eye on it so we’d like that inspected every 12 months, as well as the 300 East bridge over the Yellow River by the industrial park. We want that looked at as well. Those are in there for kind of safety reasons. They don’t need to be replaced yet,” commented Ritzler.
He said the county may not have any deficiencies for two weeks until the new report comes out in September. There are two bridges that could be close to being considered for replacement, but the county will know when the report is disbursed.
There are four bridge projects in the works this year. Construction will begin in March on Bridge No. 58 on County Road 800 South over Bogus Run east of County Road 200 W. Construction on Bridge No. 36 will begin in May. That bridge is located on County Road 25 North, west of 600 East over Eagle Creek. Bids will be opened in April for Bridge No. 154 on County Road 100 East over the Robbins Ditch north of County Road 400 North. Plans are open bids in July for Bridge No. 7 on County Road 1200 East over the Yellow River north of County Road 250 South.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Highway Department is working toward a goal of having zero deficient bridges in the county.
The effort has shown as there are only two that remain on the list. Referring to the Phase 2A report that pertains to bridge inspections, Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners they are mindful of a couple of areas to make sure they don’t worsen too quickly.
“One of the aluminum box culverts doesn’t need to be replaced, but we need to keep an eye on it so we’d like that inspected every 12 months, as well as the 300 East bridge over the Yellow River by the industrial park. We want that looked at as well. Those are in there for kind of safety reasons. They don’t need to be replaced yet,” commented Ritzler.
He said the county may not have any deficiencies for two weeks until the new report comes out in September. There are two bridges that could be close to being considered for replacement, but the county will know when the report is disbursed.
There are four bridge projects in the works this year. Construction will begin in March on Bridge No. 58 on County Road 800 South over Bogus Run east of County Road 200 W. Construction on Bridge No. 36 will begin in May. That bridge is located on County Road 25 North, west of 600 East over Eagle Creek. Bids will be opened in April for Bridge No. 154 on County Road 100 East over the Robbins Ditch north of County Road 400 North. Plans are open bids in July for Bridge No. 7 on County Road 1200 East over the Yellow River north of County Road 250 South.
Monday, February 5, 2018
Starke County Highway Department Making Intersection Safety Improvements
Posted on February 5, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
For the past several months, the Starke County Highway Department workers have been installing reflective strips to the poles that hold traffic signs to enhance safety at all intersections in the county. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said the safety devices have been installed first on highly traveled roads.
“The state has given us permission to put the reflective strips on all of the signs. That’s what we’re focusing on now. We’re just about done with all of the state roads. I think we have part of State Road 8 left to do and maybe a little section on State Road 23. Once we’re done with that we’re going to start going on the non-main roads and getting them on there. Eventually, we’d like those strips on every sign in the county. We have about 7,000 signs so that’s going to take a while,” said Ritzler.
He commented that it may take a year to complete that task. The county has already seen a reduction in crashes as a result of the reflective strips.
Ritzler added that they are also in the process of making all signs highly reflective.
“Right now we’re at 30 percent of our signs. We’re actually having one of our people redoing our sign inventory this spring to get the exact count and exact locations of the signs we need to replace.”
Ritzler explained that these improvements are an inexpensive way to increase safety.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
For the past several months, the Starke County Highway Department workers have been installing reflective strips to the poles that hold traffic signs to enhance safety at all intersections in the county. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said the safety devices have been installed first on highly traveled roads.
“The state has given us permission to put the reflective strips on all of the signs. That’s what we’re focusing on now. We’re just about done with all of the state roads. I think we have part of State Road 8 left to do and maybe a little section on State Road 23. Once we’re done with that we’re going to start going on the non-main roads and getting them on there. Eventually, we’d like those strips on every sign in the county. We have about 7,000 signs so that’s going to take a while,” said Ritzler.
He commented that it may take a year to complete that task. The county has already seen a reduction in crashes as a result of the reflective strips.
Ritzler added that they are also in the process of making all signs highly reflective.
“Right now we’re at 30 percent of our signs. We’re actually having one of our people redoing our sign inventory this spring to get the exact count and exact locations of the signs we need to replace.”
Ritzler explained that these improvements are an inexpensive way to increase safety.
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Starke County Highway Department Ready for More Snow
Posted on February 1, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Crews at the Starke County Highway Department have been working on maintaining the snow plows and hauling more sand in between snow events this week.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said some of the plows in the fleet underwent maintenance during this quiet time.
“We had one day this winter where we had five trucks go down and we have five spares,” said Ritzler. “If one more truck went down, we were going to have an area without a truck. We were a little worried about that. In this lull period, the mechanics have gotten caught up. Right now we have five spares ready to go and all trucks are running pretty well.”
He noted that there are 16 snow plow driver areas in the county.
“We also have a smaller dump truck that does the Koontz Lake and Bass Lake areas and some of the subdivision areas, and we have anywhere from two or three pickups throughout the county in subdivision areas as well. We expanded that a little bit this year and we’re going to do it again next year.”
Despite the amount of snow the area has gotten, Ritzler said the highway department has a good supply of road salt.
“We were lucky. The last two years the winters have been relatively mild. What we’ve done – we go through the state bid. As part of the bid, we put in how much salt we think we’re going to need. Because of the bulk, we get a lot lower prices that way. We have to get 80 percent or 120 percent of what we bid. In a lot of places, because they didn’t need to use much salt the last two years, they just got their 80 percent minimum. We decided to get our 120 percent maximum and store the salt here. Even though we’ve used more salt this winter we’re still way below our quota for this year.”
In 2014, the county almost ran out of salt with all of the snow events that year.
Ritzler said the crews have been busy catching up the sand supply to get ready for more snow. Accumulating snow is predicted in the forecast for Saturday.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Crews at the Starke County Highway Department have been working on maintaining the snow plows and hauling more sand in between snow events this week.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said some of the plows in the fleet underwent maintenance during this quiet time.
“We had one day this winter where we had five trucks go down and we have five spares,” said Ritzler. “If one more truck went down, we were going to have an area without a truck. We were a little worried about that. In this lull period, the mechanics have gotten caught up. Right now we have five spares ready to go and all trucks are running pretty well.”
He noted that there are 16 snow plow driver areas in the county.
“We also have a smaller dump truck that does the Koontz Lake and Bass Lake areas and some of the subdivision areas, and we have anywhere from two or three pickups throughout the county in subdivision areas as well. We expanded that a little bit this year and we’re going to do it again next year.”
Despite the amount of snow the area has gotten, Ritzler said the highway department has a good supply of road salt.
“We were lucky. The last two years the winters have been relatively mild. What we’ve done – we go through the state bid. As part of the bid, we put in how much salt we think we’re going to need. Because of the bulk, we get a lot lower prices that way. We have to get 80 percent or 120 percent of what we bid. In a lot of places, because they didn’t need to use much salt the last two years, they just got their 80 percent minimum. We decided to get our 120 percent maximum and store the salt here. Even though we’ve used more salt this winter we’re still way below our quota for this year.”
In 2014, the county almost ran out of salt with all of the snow events that year.
Ritzler said the crews have been busy catching up the sand supply to get ready for more snow. Accumulating snow is predicted in the forecast for Saturday.
Friday, December 22, 2017
Starke County Council Considers Purchase for Traffic Counter
Posted on December 22, 2017
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Council members considered the purchase of a radar counter for the Starke County Highway Department during their Monday night meeting.
Economic Development Foundation Director Charlie Weaver said the radar counter will be used to collect traffic data at a quicker speed for the proposed U.S. 30 freeway project.
“The beautiful part of this is isn’t hoses you run over,” said Weaver. “It’s a lot more accurate count. After they finish the count and maintain the count for the U.S. 30 project, there are other places in the county where they can use it. The state is going to require more and more supporting data behind what happens. This allows the county to do that.”
The counter is estimated to cost $3,235 and will be paid for out of the economic development portion of the County Economic Development Income Tax fund.
This new device will accompany another traffic counter already used by the department to gather information.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said the device will pay for itself in one project as it will greatly assist the crew with valued statistics. He said the crew knows how to use the equipment and Ritzler does the analysis.
The county council unanimously approved the request. The commissioners previously approved a recommendation for the purchase.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Council members considered the purchase of a radar counter for the Starke County Highway Department during their Monday night meeting.
Economic Development Foundation Director Charlie Weaver said the radar counter will be used to collect traffic data at a quicker speed for the proposed U.S. 30 freeway project.
“The beautiful part of this is isn’t hoses you run over,” said Weaver. “It’s a lot more accurate count. After they finish the count and maintain the count for the U.S. 30 project, there are other places in the county where they can use it. The state is going to require more and more supporting data behind what happens. This allows the county to do that.”
The counter is estimated to cost $3,235 and will be paid for out of the economic development portion of the County Economic Development Income Tax fund.
This new device will accompany another traffic counter already used by the department to gather information.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said the device will pay for itself in one project as it will greatly assist the crew with valued statistics. He said the crew knows how to use the equipment and Ritzler does the analysis.
The county council unanimously approved the request. The commissioners previously approved a recommendation for the purchase.
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Starke County Highway Department Ready for Winter Weather
Posted on December 7, 2017
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Highway Department crew is prepared for the winter season.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners this week that everyone is set to go when the snow arrives.
“We’re fully prepared,” said Ritzler. “We have as much salt as we can safely stockpile. We have all of our winter supplies stocked. All of our frontline trucks are in working order. We’ve done multiple snow plow training and dry runs of our routes. The experienced drivers are showing all of the new guys how to operate all of the equipment. The only thing missing is snow and ice.”
There is snow in the forecast this week.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Highway Department crew is prepared for the winter season.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners this week that everyone is set to go when the snow arrives.
“We’re fully prepared,” said Ritzler. “We have as much salt as we can safely stockpile. We have all of our winter supplies stocked. All of our frontline trucks are in working order. We’ve done multiple snow plow training and dry runs of our routes. The experienced drivers are showing all of the new guys how to operate all of the equipment. The only thing missing is snow and ice.”
There is snow in the forecast this week.
Monday, November 13, 2017
Starke County Highway Department to Apply for Federal Grants
Posted on November 13, 2017
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler will be applying for federal funds for three projects.
The deadline for the federal roll call for project applications is at the end of the month. Ritzler said the county will be applying for funds to complete an intersection improvement at County Road 210 and old State Road 10. That project also includes plans for a bike trail station that would be coordinated with a local trail organization.
Ritzler said Purdue LTAP recommended improvements at this intersection as it’s dangerous. They recommended making it a T-intersection.
Another project would be the replacement of Bridge #154 which was not approved for Community Crossings money this year. Bridge #154 is on County Road 100 East over Robbins Ditch. If this project does not receive this funding, Ritzler said the highway department will bid it out locally in the spring of 2018.
Ritzler also hopes to get funding to repave four truck route projects on County Road 1100 E., County Road 700 East, Range Road, and County Road 400 South.
Ritzler said he’s confident the county will be awarded funds for at least one of the projects.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler will be applying for federal funds for three projects.
The deadline for the federal roll call for project applications is at the end of the month. Ritzler said the county will be applying for funds to complete an intersection improvement at County Road 210 and old State Road 10. That project also includes plans for a bike trail station that would be coordinated with a local trail organization.
Ritzler said Purdue LTAP recommended improvements at this intersection as it’s dangerous. They recommended making it a T-intersection.
Another project would be the replacement of Bridge #154 which was not approved for Community Crossings money this year. Bridge #154 is on County Road 100 East over Robbins Ditch. If this project does not receive this funding, Ritzler said the highway department will bid it out locally in the spring of 2018.
Ritzler also hopes to get funding to repave four truck route projects on County Road 1100 E., County Road 700 East, Range Road, and County Road 400 South.
Ritzler said he’s confident the county will be awarded funds for at least one of the projects.
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Second Opinion Sought on Possible Starke County Intersection Improvements
Posted on November 11, 2017
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Three intersections have been studied for potential upgrades in Starke County, but the highway superintendent wants a second opinion.
Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners this week that he is enlisting the help of officials from Purdue University’s Local Technical Assistance Program to decide how to go about improving these intersections.
“As you know, sometimes they come down and review intersection safety for us,” explained Ritzler. “We have three intersections that we’ve done traffic studies on. We always want a second opinion when there are some differing opinions.”
One of the intersections in question is County Road 210 and Boa Shores at Bass Lake.
“They want a crosswalk installed there. We’re going to have Purdue do a little study for us on that and make a recommendation. There has been a request for a four-way stop at 300 E. and 700 S. that we’ve looked at and we’d like help with. In Bourne’s Subdivision, there’s a four-way stop request near the daycare center there. We think that all of these things should happen, but there are some technical things we want them to help us with and how to do the signage. It’s always good to have a second opinion.”
These issues are expected to be reviewed in early December.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Three intersections have been studied for potential upgrades in Starke County, but the highway superintendent wants a second opinion.
Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners this week that he is enlisting the help of officials from Purdue University’s Local Technical Assistance Program to decide how to go about improving these intersections.
“As you know, sometimes they come down and review intersection safety for us,” explained Ritzler. “We have three intersections that we’ve done traffic studies on. We always want a second opinion when there are some differing opinions.”
One of the intersections in question is County Road 210 and Boa Shores at Bass Lake.
“They want a crosswalk installed there. We’re going to have Purdue do a little study for us on that and make a recommendation. There has been a request for a four-way stop at 300 E. and 700 S. that we’ve looked at and we’d like help with. In Bourne’s Subdivision, there’s a four-way stop request near the daycare center there. We think that all of these things should happen, but there are some technical things we want them to help us with and how to do the signage. It’s always good to have a second opinion.”
These issues are expected to be reviewed in early December.
Starke County Highway Department Continues Safety Measures
Posted on November 11, 2017
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Starke County Highway Department crews are continuing efforts to make county roadways safer for drivers.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said the installation of reflective post enhancers is ongoing.
“We’ve put the reflectors on the stop signs and they’ve worked very well,” said Ritzler. “We’re doing that throughout the county and we’re about a fifth of the way done. There is still a lot to go with that.”
“We’re also going to put these reflectors on the bridges. All of our new bridges have these reflectors on them. If you’ve gone down one of the new bridges, it looks like a runway. None of our old bridges have them and one reason why we never did that in the past is because they cost so much. They’re $17 a reflector and there are 50 to 60 on a bridge. We found a vendor when I was at my last conference that sells them for $3 apiece. So, we’re going to put them on all of the bridges and we can do that for just a few thousand dollars.”
Highway crew members have also been training in snow plow operations. A representative from the Kosciusko County Highway Department recently visited to relay information to the drivers and Bliss McKnight will be in to discuss safety and liability on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Ritzler said on the job training will be coming soon.
“The first few times somebody plows we don’t have them plowing. They sit with an experienced driver. After about the second or third snowfall, they’ll get in the driver’s seat. The experienced driver will get in the other seat. As you know, we have a lot of drivers who haven’t been through a heavy snowfall. The last really heavy season was in 2014 and about half of our drivers came to the department after that.”
Other training will be ongoing throughout the winter months.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Starke County Highway Department crews are continuing efforts to make county roadways safer for drivers.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said the installation of reflective post enhancers is ongoing.
“We’ve put the reflectors on the stop signs and they’ve worked very well,” said Ritzler. “We’re doing that throughout the county and we’re about a fifth of the way done. There is still a lot to go with that.”
“We’re also going to put these reflectors on the bridges. All of our new bridges have these reflectors on them. If you’ve gone down one of the new bridges, it looks like a runway. None of our old bridges have them and one reason why we never did that in the past is because they cost so much. They’re $17 a reflector and there are 50 to 60 on a bridge. We found a vendor when I was at my last conference that sells them for $3 apiece. So, we’re going to put them on all of the bridges and we can do that for just a few thousand dollars.”
Highway crew members have also been training in snow plow operations. A representative from the Kosciusko County Highway Department recently visited to relay information to the drivers and Bliss McKnight will be in to discuss safety and liability on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Ritzler said on the job training will be coming soon.
“The first few times somebody plows we don’t have them plowing. They sit with an experienced driver. After about the second or third snowfall, they’ll get in the driver’s seat. The experienced driver will get in the other seat. As you know, we have a lot of drivers who haven’t been through a heavy snowfall. The last really heavy season was in 2014 and about half of our drivers came to the department after that.”
Other training will be ongoing throughout the winter months.
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