PUBLIC NOTICE
The Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart, is planning to close Brown Road between Meyer Road and Fleetfoot Road in Jefferson Township for a bridge replacement. This road will be closed tentatively on April 27, 2021 and is scheduled to reopen in approximately 4-5 weeks, depending on the weather conditions.
Any additional questions, contact the Mercer County Engineer’s Office at 419-586-7759.
The Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart, is planning to close Watkins Road between Post Road and Hemmelgarn Road in Granville Township for a bridge replacement. This road will be closed tentatively on June 1, 2021 and is scheduled to reopen in approximately 3-4 weeks, depending on the weather conditions.
Any additional questions, contact the Mercer County Engineer’s Office at 419-586-7759.
PUBLIC NOTICE
DITCH MAINTENANCE SPRAYING BEGINS
Mercer County Engineer Jim Wiechart is announcing that crews are tentatively scheduled to begin the 2021 herbicidal spray application of various open drainage ditches located in Mercer County. Only those ditches that are on the county maintenance program maintained by the Mercer County Engineer’s Office will be sprayed.
Right of Way Management, St. Joseph, IN has been awarded the contract this year to apply one application of the E.P.A. approved herbicide, to suppress and control undesirable brush and noxious weeds within the channel and maintenance berm.
Weather permitting, the tentatively scheduled completion date for this year’s herbicidal spray application is May 31, 2021. Any landowner having questions or concerns regarding the herbicide application, should contact the Mercer County Engineer’s Office, 4195867759.
Spring planting & open ditch maintenance
The Mercer County Commissioners and the Mercer County Engineer would like to remind those who plant and till the fields around the county this spring to remember to avoid planting in the roadway right-of-way. The Engineer and the Commissioner’s Office have maps that identify the varied widths of the road right-of-way throughout the county. More specifically, sight problems limiting the ability of the traveling public to see, can be particularly hazardous.
Also, a reminder to those along county-maintained open ditches. By law there is a maintenance easement for access adjacent to the tops of banks of the open ditches. We encourage the use of filter strips to eliminate sedimentation and soil erosion adjacent to the open ditches. Keep in mind that our maintenance crews use the easement for access for the maintenance operations we perform (the spraying of weeds and brush is the most significant maintenance operation).
Should you have any questions related to these requirements, please feel free to call the Commissioners’ Office at 419-586-3178 or the Engineer’s Office at 419-586-7759.
Road Closures (early-mid April)
The Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart, is issuing a reminder to all drivers, that during the construction season and also at other times throughout the year, there are various temporary road closures in the county to allow our crews to do the repair/maintenance work required to keep our roads in good driving condition. These roads may be closed intermittently on our normal work days (Monday thru Thursday 7:30 am-4:00 pm) as conditions and work requirements fashion.
The only reason a driver should bypass a “Road Closed” sign is to access a local address in the “closed” road area. Through travel should detour away from the closure.
If local access is necessary and you must access the “closed” road, please use caution and drive slow to keep yourself and our workers safe.
Any additional questions contact the Mercer County Engineer’s Office at 419-586-7759.
COUNTY REMINDER
Ohio Law prohibits signs on trees and poles.
Mercer County Engineer Jim Wiechart has issued a reminder that the Ohio Revised Code prohibits the erection of signs or affixing signs, posters or advertisement to any tree or utility pole within the right-of-way of any public highway.
Political candidates, campaign workers and supporters of issues appearing on the ballot are reminded that these signs are subject to removal.
Youth groups to collect litter.
Motorists are asked to use caution in the next few months as youth community groups will be picking up litter in the ditches along many Mercer County Roads.
Mercer County Engineer Jim Wiechart issued the warning recently to protect the various groups of people who will be participating in the Litter Pick-up Program this spring. “Clean-up crews are set to begin work in late March and typically complete the project by late spring,” Wiechart said.
The litter pick-up program is a joint project funded by the County Engineer’s Office and Township Trustees who pay recognized civic and community groups who participate. Safety vests, gloves, bags and disposal fees are funded by the Mercer County Solid Waste District and the Ohio EPA.
MERCER COUNTY ENGINEER DITCH MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES
Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart is announcing that over the upcoming construction season that engineer inspection and maintenance personnel will be on-site on many of the 111 miles of Mercer County maintained open drainage ditches and 62 miles of tile throughout Mercer County.
Easements exist along specific drainage infrastructure attributes that allow the necessary evaluation and maintenance of these important drainage elements. Such things as ditch inspection, spraying for noxious weeds and erosion repairs will occur throughout the year. “Many people may think that a ditch or tile is solely on private property, but all of Mercer County’s ditch and tile maintenance infrastructure attributes have a maintenance easement on and around the drainage feature. A fraction of the open ditches and tile in the unincorporated areas are on county maintenance.” Wiechart stated.
