The Clinton County Commissioners issued a statement Tuesday morning regarding the reason the north wall of the Annex project collapsed recently during heavy rains.
“”I’ll be really honest. I think we got just lazy and wanted to get done as quickly as possible,” said Commissioners President Jordan Brewer. “We didn’t double check our work. Unfortunately, it happens to everybody whose been involved in some level of the construction process. There is always some amount of human error.”
Brewer added that a plug wasn’t installed properly, filled up with concrete as it settled and oozed out the bad plug. It was the same weekend the county received about three inches or more of rain. Those things reportedly caused the issue.
Brewer also said crews are back working on the project. The mishap will be of no cost to the county because of the BOT (Build Operate Transfer) agreement that the county and Envoy, the company doing the work, agreed to do.
Brewer added he wanted to clarify all the talk about the wall collapsing.
Following a presentation by Healthy Communities of Clinton County Coalition Executive Director, the Commissioners approved their portion of the Opioid Settlement Program.
“We’ve built up the war chest a little bit,” said Brewer. “It seems like it almost changes daily or weekly in terms of a new check coming in for the opioid settlement. The county has over $150,000 in the account and this first request was for about $60,000 of that.”
Brewer added the county has been told that the way they have the program set up could be a model for anybody else in the state.
Brewer also said the committee, which is comprised of 10 individuals and meets at least quarterly, is doing a great job,
“It all stems from the really good people and leadership in that sector of our community,” said Brewer. “They are passionate about helping people. One of my comments today was about trying to spread the word. We don’t want to set on this money. We want to get it out in the community and working.”
The Commissioners also approved the five members of the new Cemetery Commission and their terms. They are Andy Robertson (5 years), Bill Miller (4 years), Josh Uitts (3 years), Sue Marcum ( 2 years) and Susie Plunkett (1 year).
Robertson said there were about 13 cemeteries in the county that are in disrepair and in need of serious help fast before they are gone for good.
County Highway Superintendent Rick Campbell was asked how he was going to spend they money they received from the Community Crossings Grant last week of $934,396.31. He said the majority of it will be used for the Michigantown Blacktop project and some of it will be used to work on County Road 100 East to County Road 150 East.