“It’s a liability,” he said pointed out some neighboring counties that have more paved roads that are falling apart.

“The Odon-Cannelburg Road is a priority with all the traffic and business on it,” he added. “We’ll have about $3.2 million dollars (from grants) to use to bring it up to federal standards. That’s doing about 2 1/2 miles. The thing is safety first, jobs second. There are several smaller industries on that road.”

Payton said he is impressed with the Lighthouse and the county’s support of the project. It’s something he would like to see expanded.

“They are doing marvelous work within the community,” Payton said. “I’m also very impressed with the work within the county security system and would like to see it grow.”

He said the new programs at the Daviess County Security Center can do a lot to keep people from repeat offending and can help bring families back together.

“It’s hard to find people to work in that capacity (security center) and hard to keep them,” Payton said. “We’ve got good people and it’s up to us to keep them. They can make a big difference in people’s stay (in jail).”

Wichman said he was pleased with the new Tech Park outside of Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center and as a commissioner has promoted the growth of the park and industrialization in the county.

“With TIFF districts tax dollars stay here,” he said. “TIFF areas allow us to bring in state tax money that allow us to do infrastructure, road and electricity.

“We’re working to promote Daviess County. That funding is priority. If you don’t have the industry you won’t have the jobs.”

He would also like to see jobs in the area that keep young people here.

“If you don’t have the workforce, you won’t have the industry,” Wichman said. “I believe we’ve got the workforce. We need to retrain what we’ve got.”

Keeping youth in the area is also a priority with Payton, who said both his married daughters left Washington as their husbands’ jobs took them to the Lagrange area.

“Seems like we get a good paying job and lose someone else whose been here awhile,” he said. “In 21 years at my church we’ve watched young people go to college and then have to move away for a job. It’s a real problem in the area. I’d like to reverse that.”

Payton said he thinks I-69 will be an answer to that problem.

“But I’ve been her 21 years and we’re just beginning to get that (I-69) going,” he said. “We’re past due for something to help develop our area.”