County staff to pursue state flex‑fund grant for half‑mile of aging Banville Avenue pavement
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Summary
Commissioners agreed that county staff should pursue a state flex‑fund grant and work with the city and township on maintenance agreements for a half‑mile section of abandoned concrete roadway after the state offered to deed the road to local jurisdiction.
County commissioners discussed ownership and maintenance of a half‑mile concrete section of Banville Avenue—an old state highway segment—that has deteriorated and lacks a clear long‑term owner. State Department of Transportation staff told the county they would deed the road if the county chose to accept ownership.
Commissioners and staff said the pavement and underlying culverts need repair, and that the road has been de‑facto maintained by the county for years. County staff proposed pursuing a state flex‑fund grant to pay for rehabilitation work and then entering a three‑party maintenance agreement with the city of Mandeville and Perry Township to share future upkeep costs.
Commissioners expressed concern that continued inaction would worsen the roadway and raised the prospect of pressing the state for grant resources. No vote to accept ownership was taken on July 1; commissioners directed county staff to work with the DOT, the city and the township to prepare a grant application and draft maintenance agreements to bring back for formal approval.
County officials said the flex‑fund program has supported similar projects and that the state district engineer indicated verbal support for pursuing grant funding. Staff cautioned that award rates and program availability can vary by year and that any deeding of the road would be contingent on project funding and executed legal agreements.