3 detours coming to Clay County roads

At Monday’s meeting of the Clay County Commissioners, three detours were approved:

• S.R. 246 for a bridge 1.4 miles east of S.R. 159 will be closed July 8-19. The detour will be C.R. 500W amd C.R. 1100S.

• S.R. 59, south of Clay City, will be closed .6 mile south of S.R. 246 from July 19 to Aug. 15. The detour is C.R. 950S using C.R. 175W to S.R. 246.

• S.R. 59, north of Hendrix Street at C.R. 1100 N, July 8 to Sept. 12, using S.R. 59 to Hendrix Street to Murphy Road to C.R. 1200N.

Commissioner Paul Sinders explained “unofficial” detours were approved by the County Commissioners because the detours first set by the Indiana Department of Transportation would take drivers miles out of their way. By setting these unofficial detours, INDOT will be asked to provide money to make a any repairs due to heavier than usual usage by vehicles during the time of the detours. Usually, INDOT has no problem paying for the road usage, Sinders said.

In other business, the Commissioners approved Scott Stuckey’s request to apply for the annual Drug-Free Community Grant on behalf of the Clay County Substance Abuse Council.

“Each year we receive penalties and fines that are collected from the courts here in Clay County,” Stuckey said. “We redistribute them to all kinds of local agencies and organizations that help promote prevention education for Clay County youth and we also support law enforcement.”