Commissioners Approve $1.82M Bid For Next Phase Of Old 30 Renovation

County Commissioners this morning approved a $1.82 million bid for the next phase of Old 30 renovation. They accepted the bid from Phend and Brown for the fourth phase of Old 30 work, which will see the road from the bridge to the Zimmer Road roundabout widened to three lanes with curbs and gutters installed. County Administrator Ron Robinson, who presented the bid, noted that it came under their estimate by about $269,000. Commissioners also approved engineers to start rehab projects on two bridges in the county. Highway Superintendent Scott Tilden said he has budgeted for renovation of bridge number 7, over Deeds Creek on CR 225E, and bridge number 278 in Syracuse. He said number 7 is estimated to cost about $163,000 and number 278 to cost $293,000. He told commissioners he has been looking at the more than 100 bridges in the county that are more than 20 feet long, and said now is a good time to catch these bridges before they become a problem down the road. And commissioners approved the County Redevelopment Commission’s declaratory resolution for a Tax Increment Finance District surrounding the site of Trupointe Cooperative Inc. north of Milford. The Redevelopment Commission passed the resolution at its Feb. 13 meeting and will look next at a confirmatory resolution. County Commissioners earlier in the meeting recognized Larry Criswell as the Veteran of the Month. Criswell, who graduated from Milford High School in 1967 and lives in Warsaw, served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. Criswell worked in field artillery, was a marksman in the M14 and M16 rifles, and received the Gallantry Cross with Palm from the former Government of South Vietnam. He also served alongside the marines in Da Nang. He said while with the Marines he got to shake Bob Hope’s hand during a USO visit. Commissioner Bob Conley said many of the veterans who visit his barber shop speak highly of Criswell and say he should be considered for recognition. “These guys just love everything you’ve done for them,” he told Criswell. “Whenever something needed to be done, you’re there for that.”