The residents of Koontz Island are facing significant challenges due to the lack of maintenance and formal adoption of East Island Road and the critical bridge connecting it to the island on Koontz Lake. An essential road, East Island Road, serves as the only access to the island where people have built their homes and lives. Unfortunately, without formal adoption and oversight, residents cannot perform ordinary house maintenance requiring heavy construction equipment because service providers are unable to bring necessary machinery across the bridge. One glaring example is a resident who urgently needs a new well drilled but finds himself stuck in a situation where no service providers are willing to cross the bridge, given its uninspected condition and the absence of a posted weight limit.

Despite these evident hardships for the community, the State of Indiana Department of Transportation has been providing Starke County with funds specifically for roadway maintenance and development, yet the dire situation with East Island Road and the bridge continues unabated and ignored. It's time Starke County takes the necessary steps to officially recognize and adopt East Island Road and the bridge as county-managed properties.

Adopting the road and bridge would ensure regular inspections, maintenance, safety improvements, and posted regulations like weight limits, which would prevent further disruption to the residents' daily lives. Furthermore, it would validate the community's access to critical infrastructure services and enhance the overall quality of life by making property maintenance feasible at last.

I urge the Starke County officials, community leaders, and the related departments to consider the immediate adoption and maintenance of East Island Road and the bridge. Doing so would not only rectify these pressing issues but also demonstrate a commitment to the well-being and safety of our community. Please sign this petition to show your support for this long-overdue necessary action. Your signature can help bring about the change needed to ensure the safety and accessibility for all residents of Koontz Island.