[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,85],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6085610,"mediaKeyId","2902967-d45f4d3b0364ee3fb8ecd5dfaf6cc7f4","parentId",2902967,"title","Decatur County commissioners approve multiple contracts, hires and project payouts; chip-and-seal bids deferred","audioSeconds",2480,"startMs",2480000,"endMs",-1,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2902967-d45f4d3b0364ee3fb8ecd5dfaf6cc7f4&start=2480&end=0","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2902967-d45f4d3b0364ee3fb8ecd5dfaf6cc7f4/thumbnail_2480000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6085610/Decatur-County/Indiana/Decatur-County-commissioners-approve-multiple-contracts-hires-and-project-payouts-chip-and-seal-bids-deferred","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6085610-d81121e0e794d8b35402604d4826cb1d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770505517&Signature=k~FRax5EJVyJquvwQ63trIGMrXrJ9Fx3ULhMYnxzulmEIbiFCBulYZd41rYEi4QG6wT3wArz5Y7L-QXrfPKdbsXYBnTCvHZ2VHQWG79qO31f7~TMvBEcJCeYV3D-snTgluv0Dq0iT36zk-7jGuN~AYjO2vEcVlkLEzyAXaRlYGNpOoi2XGhU8koGqmogMj7czw2eZVvnrsag2ZRRGzNc92iLIuhfG8fED5Y0S7KIOyVfltIY0b953lckGPmzCWC-diLBYq6LSf9kp1FJkOoKeLOLJ7NgI1S4dTg69nxLcGzN1MN~o0TC1E23B1dAjeD-8YZqhXd4Wp9sTqoOXuV-1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Decatur County IN","date","2025-04-09T00:40:34.027Z","article","Decatur County commissioners approved a swath of procurement awards, vendor contracts, appointments and project payouts at their April 7 meeting, but deferred action on the 2025 CCMG chip-and-seal bids after staff and counsel flagged contractor prequalification certificates.

The board approved contracts and motions by voice vote on a series of items brought forward from the Highway and Fairgrounds agendas, accepted bids for routine supplies and paving work, authorized a third payout for the YMCA OCRA-funded roof project, and confirmed several personnel and advisory appointments. Commissioners instructed staff and counsel to review INDOT prequalification and public-works statutes before deciding the chip-and-seal procurement and scheduled that matter for the April 21 meeting.

Why it matters: The approvals move forward multiple county capital and operational projects, including road repairs tied to an INDOT detour reimbursement, annual paving work and fairgrounds construction steps. The deferred chip-and-seal decision affects a major highway resurfacing procurement and will determine whether the county must rebid the work.

What the board approved (selected highlights):
- Detour reimbursement contract with INDOT for repair work tied to the Shade Road detour, reported reimbursement amount $124,312.50; motion carried.
- Acceptance of all stone bids for highway quarry materials; motion carried.
- Award of the county fuel contract to Premier Energy; motion carried.
- Acceptance of all aggregate/mix bids; motion carried.
- Awards to Globe (Globe/Global Asphalt) and other low bidders for 2025 HMA overlay, patching and related paving packages; motions carried on multiple items.
- Motion to accept a change order/backorder for the ball-diamond project (back-order amount cited by staff: $676,428) approved.
- Third pay application for YMCA OCRA project: payout #3 of $25,463.21 approved; cumulative completed work shown as $517,491.40.
- Appointment: county veterans service representative (applicant #1) approved by motion.
- Appointment: David Vandenberg to the Fair Committee approved by motion.
- Contract: King Brothers Rodeo contract for fair rodeo July 15, 2025 approved.
- Fairgrounds Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreement for the Ready 2 project approved and signed.
- Reappointment: Janice Mangold to the Public Library Board approved.
- Lifetime Resources designated as the Section 5311 (Catch-A-Ride) provider for Decatur County for upcoming grant cycle; motion carried.
- Power of the Past event: county approved an alcohol vendor arrangement for the fairgrounds event (security and insurance conditions discussed); motion carried.
- Use of courthouse bathroom facilities for the June 28 train-visit tourism event approved (organizer to coordinate security and insurance).
- Road-closure approval for Southside Elementary 5K (April 26) for race routing and intersections; motion carried.

Chip-and-seal bids deferred: County highway staff and county counsel identified inconsistencies between submitted INDOT prequalification certificates and the dollar value of bids for the 2025 CCMG chip-and-seal package. Counsel advised that state public-works statutes require bidder prequalification levels that match the project scope. Because some submitted certificates were either superseded, clerically incorrect, or showed limits below the bid amounts, commissioners exercised discretion to postpone awarding the contract, directed staff to seek clarifications and set a rebid/review target (rebid opening suggested by staff: May 19) but agreed to reconvene the issue at the April 21 meeting to provide counsel time to review the statutes and certificates further.

What’s next: The April 21 meeting will include follow-up on the CCMG chip-and-seal prequalification issue; staff will rebid or seek corrected certificates as instructed by counsel. Other awarded contracts will proceed per standard procurement and contracting processes.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded in meeting minutes):
- INDOT detour reimbursement contract (Shade Road) — motion to accept contract; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Stone bids (2025) — motion to accept any/all stone bids; outcome: approved.
- Fuel contract — motion to award to Premier Energy; outcome: approved.
- Mixtures / aggregate bids — motion to accept any/all; outcome: approved.
- 2025 HMA overlay / patching / wedge/resurfacing packages — motions to award to Globe/low bidders as recommended; outcome: approved.
- Backorder/change order for ball-diamond build — motion to approve (amount cited in meeting: $676,428); outcome: approved.
- YMCA payout #3 (OCRA pass-through) — motion to approve payout of $25,463.21; outcome: approved.
- Veterans service representative hire (applicant #1) — motion to hire; outcome: approved.
- Fair committee appointment (David Vandenberg) — motion to appoint; outcome: approved.
- King Brothers Rodeo contract — motion to approve; outcome: approved.
- Fairgrounds BOT agreement (Ready 2 project) — motion to accept; outcome: approved.
- Lifetime Resources designation as Section 5311 provider (Catch-A-Ride) — motion to approve; outcome: approved.
- Power of the Past alcohol vendor request for fair — motion to approve with security/insurance conditions; outcome: approved.
- Use of courthouse restrooms for June 28 train visit — motion to approve; outcome: approved.
- Road closure for Southside Elementary 5K (April 26) — motion to approve; outcome: approved.

Note: Most approvals were by voice vote; the meeting record shows “aye” voice votes but did not record individual roll-call tallies.

Ending: Commissioners directed staff to complete contract paperwork for the approved items and to return with corrected bid documents or recommendations for the chip-and-seal matter at the April 21 meeting, allowing counsel time to confirm applicable INDOT/public-works prequalification requirements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04/07/2025 - Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Decatur County commissioners approved multiple contracts, bids, appointments and project payouts at their April 7 meeting while deferring the county’s CCMG chip-and-seal award until counsels verify contractor prequalification certificates.","taxTitle","Decatur County, Indiana","taxId",56035,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":44,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":50,"_51":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":83,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":84,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6085600,"Commissioners postpone CCMG chip-and-seal award after questions about contractor prequalification certificates",4649,7129000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2902967-d45f4d3b0364ee3fb8ecd5dfaf6cc7f4&start=2480&end=7129","/articles/6085600/Decatur-County/Indiana/Commissioners-postpone-CCMG-chip-and-seal-award-after-questions-about-contractor-prequalification-certificates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6085600-83f426bbacee6def20ef6d38a233d042/orig.mp4?Expires=1770505518&Signature=d2CxGHnD9W9fXqyTx7trpHwkHSRbJEHBVdz6hp7I9vHYAgusqBqEtDadkBqY2hZGQJKbQfe4M0ZnMqhY6x8sb1-pt5uvLi~iiqIMwY9wEmVbAEsInTXOP5X5qiHQSeb2ujOzSgKiGCXfj~1LUaSBxa1mS~U5j60T2n46qPiO9yihyENHQHDL5hHt8b0GkDiCz~J27mItubSZBJ0EBVmSkxY5k80uKcjfC78FIVD-6~6eQkxHdHcpm~-NrJ5ONMG-vOnAApiwXyPbx2~qZdwk~jN3FDIfmQCSFUBJbERPEbEYqNgdaFg5yh~mVTzr2Q8Dlonqu790pEfP5x81e-TaeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Decatur County commissioners postponed action on the 2025 CCMG (county highway chip-and-seal) procurement after county counsel and highway staff flagged issues with bidders’ INDOT prequalification certificates.

Lede: At the April 7 meeting, highway staff reported that three of the bids submitted for the CCMG chip-and-seal package had either prequalification certificates that were superseded, did not cover the dollar amount bid, or otherwise did not meet the county’s bid responsiveness requirements. County counsel advised the board that the applicable INDOT/public-works statutes require bidders to be prequalified for projects of a certain size and that awarding a contract to a bidder who is not properly prequalified could create an unlawful award.

Nut graf: Because the certificates on file did not uniformly demonstrate bidders were qualified for the project amounts, commissioners exercised discretion to delay awarding the work, directed counsel to review the statutory language and administrative code references including the INDOT prequalification framework, and scheduled the matter for follow-up at 8 a.m. on April 21 to allow time for legal review and for bidders to supply corrected documentation if appropriate.

Body — key points:
- Highway staff said bids were received from multiple contractors; review found at least two bids with certificates that did not meet the prequalification dollar threshold and a third where the certificate on file had been superseded by a later certificate, creating uncertainty about current qualification.
- A rebid was discussed as staff recommended rejecting all bids and rebidding with explicit prequalification dollar amounts included in the solicitation; staff suggested a rebid opening date of May 19 to give bidders time to obtain or update prequalification documents.
- County counsel read relevant procurement guidance (referenced in the meeting as an INDOT prequalification statute) and told the board it would be unlawful to award a public-works contract to a bidder not qualified in compliance with those requirements; counsel advised caution and recommended additional review.
- Several contractors in the public comment portion urged the board to avoid undue delay and noted they had relied on the bid documents as issued; contractors reported varied INDOT processing times for full financial prequalification (some cited weeks to months in past experience).

Decision and next steps: Commissioners chose not to award the contract that evening, asked counsel to prepare a legal memo on the prequalification requirements and risks, and scheduled the item for the April 21 board meeting (8 a.m.) for further action or rebid decisions. Staff indicated they may choose to reject all bids and rebid with explicit prequalification thresholds but wanted counsel’s legal confirmation first.

Ending: The chip-and-seal procurement affects the highway paving schedule and several vendors; commissioners prioritized legal certainty over an immediate award and will reconvene the matter in two weeks.","County counsel and highway staff found that several 2025 chip-and-seal bids lacked current INDOT prequalification certificates matching bid amounts; commissioners deferred award and will revisit the matter April 21 after legal review.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":92,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6085605,"Commissioners order rewrite of county cellphone reimbursement and clarify overtime rules after extended discussion",472,264000,736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2902967-d45f4d3b0364ee3fb8ecd5dfaf6cc7f4&start=264&end=736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2902967-d45f4d3b0364ee3fb8ecd5dfaf6cc7f4/thumbnail_264000.jpg","/articles/6085605/Decatur-County/Indiana/Commissioners-order-rewrite-of-county-cellphone-reimbursement-and-clarify-overtime-rules-after-extended-discussion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6085605-c753c48e4c23287293345e779b491fa0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770505518&Signature=RhJRLkpBwaBmre3yMlldTG1LKSfcKRgpJOXANbQjcyK4vkHJ-aRIrW7sBW3F-NSFuLOZDhac~UFr~t82VEGVbXKHRD-jwUrwegO-MFZX7PHuxPYN-7vh-KHEmC2Mt59isJlO9KMMK1MUFci42o8zDwnVv6Ua4OGFollH029MIPQHbQ0ED6eTBPClxqBaf2eciSqXVTLcK6Pm6WPQ3uhyCTJy95kxzvZDrSi~MgxwmLopH9ubyKplW-ls7zKZluJLsIkw2XSqEATY3SlJY3pdcp5lkiirnc9MwvDo4I01lF0tB6RFw2s4o1iLDNI-7lBwBaiEzEoh9NAnYgW22o7kEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Decatur County commissioners discussed county cellphone reimbursement and overtime rules at length on April 7, directing staff to revise the cellphone handbook language and asking human resources to prepare clearer overtime policy language for a future meeting.

Lede: The board moved a cellphone-policy item up the agenda at the sheriff’s request and spent substantial time examining how reimbursements are applied, who is eligible and whether one person can receive both a line subsidy and a data subsidy. Commissioners and department leaders agreed the county handbook lacks clarity and directed staff to draft amendments that (1) explicitly limit an employee to one reimbursement per person, (2) define eligible positions (for example on-call supervisors, highway supervisors, probation officers who must respond off-hours), and (3) set a single monthly reimbursement rate rather than separate call and data subsidies.

Nut graf: The discussion focused on practical eligibility—whether employees who serve in multiple county roles could receive multiple reimbursements, how departmental radios or issued phones affect eligibility, and whether department heads should have discretion to nominate employees for reimbursement. Commissioners asked staff to compile an eligibility list and to email affected department heads for justification before the next meeting.

Body details:
- Current practice: Commissioners noted the handbook currently references a $35 monthly call subsidy and a $45 monthly data subsidy but does not clearly state whether an employee is limited to one reimbursement if they hold multiple county roles. Staff reported claims show monthly reimbursements in multiple departments for some employees.
- Direction: The board directed a rewrite to a single reimbursement rate (staff discussed a single fee rather than paying full line cost) and asked for a list of eligible positions (on-call supervisors, highway supervisors, detention deputies, probation on-call staff and others where the cell phone is the primary means of contact) and an email/confirmation process with department heads.
- Overtime policy discussion: Commissioners and department heads discussed FLSA basics, the difference between physical hours worked and paid time off, and how emergency callouts (court, training, weather-related calls) should be treated. The board asked Human Resources (Patty) to draft clarified overtime language that distinguishes emergency callouts, court appearances and training (which may require pay) from routine scheduling issues and to propose a rule on whether PTO counts toward the 40-hour threshold for overtime.

Quotes (selected, attributed to speakers in the meeting):
- “So the way I read the policy is there is…you get either a call subsidy, which is $35 a month, or a data subsidy of $45. That’s my interpretation,” a commissioner said during the discussion.
- “I don’t believe that every single employee at the highway department should be eligible,” Todd Houghton, highway support, said when describing who should be on the eligibility list.
- “The main things that we are paying overtime for is training, court, and our callouts…court is one that we can’t control and callout we would ask for both,” a detention/jail representative said when explaining overtime practice for emergency services.

Ending: Staff will draft proposed handbook language for both cellphone reimbursement and overtime, send queries to department heads to identify positions that need reimbursement, and return to the board for adoption at a future meeting (commissioners suggested voting on the finalized changes at the next meeting).","After an extended discussion, Decatur County commissioners directed staff to rewrite the county’s cellphone reimbursement policy to clarify eligibility and single-person limits and asked human resources to draft clarified overtime rules focusing on on-call, court and emergency callouts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Decatur County commissioners approve multiple contracts, hires and project payouts; chip-and-seal bids deferred

Commissioners postpone CCMG chip-and-seal award after questions about contractor prequalification certificates

Commissioners order rewrite of county cellphone reimbursement and clarify overtime rules after extended discussion