Two of the three Woods County commissioners attended Monday’s meeting. Chairman Randy McMurphy opened the meeting with John Smiley present. David Hamil was absent.

Circuit Engineering District 8 (CED#8) engineer Donnie Head presented a report on bridge inspections in the county. He said the 182 bridges he inspected included 76 for District 1, 44 for District 2 and 62 for District 3. Head gave a verbal description of some of the issues detailed in the written report.

After approving the CED#8 report, the commissioners also approved the invoice for the bridge inspections.

Undersheriff Keith Dale attended the meeting with paperwork for a Homeland Security Grant for the sheriff’s office. The $21,398.19 is a reimbursement for updated handheld and car radios. The commissioners approved and signed the grant.

The transfer of appropriations from Highway CIRB to Highway personal services was approved in the amount of $15,168.35 for District 1 and $15,268.36 for District 2.

The meeting was paused for a few minutes while County Clerk Shelley Reed went to her office to look for a printout for the next item on the agenda. Unable to locate it, she printed it again from her computer. “The dog ate it,” she joked.

The amended Resolution No. 21-22-59 is for a change in county health insurance coverage. The commissioners voted last week to switch to HealthChoice beginning April 1. However, it was learned this could adversely affect retirees on Medicare. To allow the 60 day notice Medicare required, the beginning date was changed to June 1. After approving the resolution, the commissioners also approved an amended request letter to EGID asking to begin the insurance coverage through them on June 1.

Smiley took two items no longer needed by District 3 to the CED#8 auction. The Chevy pickup and welder were sold with proceeds of $11,500 after the eight percent deducted by the auction.

In new business, McMurphy urged people to use caution due to the high fire danger in the county. Although the surrounding counties have issued burn bans, Woods County has not. “I’ve never seen a burn ban stop it,” commented McMurphy.

The commissioners also approved blanket purchase orders before adjourning.