By John Estridge
Franklin County Commissioners are looking to do a little horse trading with the Indiana Department of Transportation.
The commissioners have been eyeing the INDOT facility located at Ninth and Mill streets in Brookville. INDOT’s local substation is moving to new facilities located north of Brookville on Indiana 101. That leaves the facilities in town open for sale.
Commissioners are proposing taking over Old Indiana 1 near Cedar Grove in exchange for the state facility in Brookville along with a cash consideration for FC.
The state has long wanted the county to take over Old Ind. 1. It stretches from Indiana 1 east to Graf Road. It has not been well maintained by the state since the Ind. 1 construction and opening at Southgate Hill and the subsequent closing and demolition of the old iron bridge over the Whitewater River at Cedar Grove.
Commission President Tom Linkel made the announcement at the Tuesday, June 29 commissioners meeting. Linkel and county attorney Grant Reeves said the matter will be brought up in an open public meeting before any final decisions are made by the county.
It is thought the Town of Brookville was also wanting to take over INDOT’s Brookville facilities, possibly to construct a new town hall at the site. However, the Brookville Town Council has not made anything public about any of their dealings with the state or private contractors. The town council was supposed to make public the results of a feasibility study it paid for concerning the building of a new town hall by June but nothing was mentioned in public concerning the feasibility study at any of the town council meetings.
BTC has not been and is not currently as transparent as county government. BTC members have been reprimanded by the state’s public access counselor for not making its dealings public even though the members are spending tax money in its endeavors. And there are more complaints pending concerning BTC at the public access counselor’s office.
The county taking over the old facility and Old IN 1 would be a win/win for Franklin County and INDOT.