By HOLLY GASKILL
A portion of County Road 500 West may be diverted around Rock Creek Stone Quarry as a potential compromise between the business and local residents.
The quarry has filed a petition to vacate CR 500W from CR 100N past the Whitelock Ditch, approximately 1,650 ft. in total. Last December, a large group of area residents spoke against the petition at a public hearing, particularly citing concerns about access to State Road 124. The matter was tabled as the business considered other options.
Representing the quarry on Monday, Chase Fiechter proposed travel be diverted east just before the Whitelock Ditch rather than create a dead end. A map presented to the commissioners showed this new road continuing east for a short jog, crossing over the ditch with a new bridge culvert, and turning north toward 100N.
Fiechter plans to expand the quarry across the road and wishes to avoid the burdens and hazards of moving equipment across the road. To accomplish this, attorney Jon Bomberger said the business would foot the bill for the new road, built to the county’s specifications.
Additionally, Bomberger stated approval of the road closure would be contingent upon the new road’s completion. He proposed this would occur no earlier than December 2025.
Commissioner Blake Gerber and Mike Vanover were receptive to the proposal but did not vote on the matter — they stated they wanted to wait until Commissioner Jeff Stringer and new County Engineer Nate Whitacre could familiarize themselves with the proposal. Stringer was absent from Monday’s meeting.
County Attorney Ted Storer also suggested the quarry present design specifications.
“I think the idea that we would fully engineer the road before it’s approved is kind of tough,” Bomberger responded.
Fiechter added, “We just, more or less, are trying to get approval so we know which direction we’re going because there’s a lot of dotting the I’s and crossing T’s — there’s a lot more work. It’d be nice to know at the end of this rabbit hole that there’s an opportunity to get approval, we’re just trying to understand where you guys are.”
At the December hearing, residents expressed concerns about closing the road with regular travel, school bus routes and emergency response, among other items. Local volunteer firefighters also advised that the closure could impact response times in the area and were apprehensive about crossing neighboring bridges with their fire trucks.
Storer advised the commissioners that there would not have to be another hearing since, but said, “There is certainly nothing that would prevent the commissioners from notifying the public about this alternative at another public hearing.”
Vanover and Gerber stated they planned to revisit the discussion with Stringer at their next meeting, July 1, with plans to consider it for an additional 30 days.
Also during the meeting, Whitacre notified the commissioners that he’s completed Employee in Responsible Charge training and will be able to take over projects from Highway Supervisor Shawn Bonar, excluding projects considered overlapping with Whitacre’s time with the Indiana Department of Transportation.
The commissioners also signed off on the substantial completion of the new highway department garage, which the county began to use in March. There are still several items being completed or repaired, which Project Manager Conor Jackson said would not be affected.
Bonar reported that the open house of the building went well, with many people complimenting the new facility. Bonar also stated that employees have begun mowing side ditches, but the task has taken more effort due to heavy spring rains. Bonar plans to present a list of prospective summer road conversions at the commissioners’ next meeting.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Holliday said Havel of Fort Wayne will soon inspect the Wells County Jail to identify the root of a sewer issue. The administrative portion received repairs earlier this year, but issues have continued throughout the building.
On Monday evening, Holliday reported 82 inmates were housed in the jail, which included 40 pre-trial holds for the Circuit Court, 25 pre-trial holds for the Superior Court, five from the Department of Correction and one Level 6 felon.
In other updates:
• Dewey Randall spoke about the Veterans Office services, reporting a slight decline in activity. However, Randall noted that the office has served roughly 30 out-of-county veterans who are not included in activity totals.
• The board for the Solid Waste District, Drainage Board and commissioners discussed their 2025 budgets with no significant changes. Surveyor Jarrod Hahn discussed changing billing for the board attorney — County Attorney Ted Storer — but no changes were made at that time.
• Auditor Lisa McCormick reported 401 vehicles showed up for the county’s HazMat Day. During the Solid Waste District’s board meeting, which precedes the commissioners’, board members Vanover, Gerber, John Whicker and Vicki Andrews were present; Stringer, Scott Mentzer and Stephanie Tucker were absent.
• The Drainage Board agreed to cancel their July 1 meeting, as Hahn will be out of office.
holly@news-banner.com
