The Vermillion County Redevelopment Commission voted to proceed with a demolition project in Dana tied to an awarded grant, to exercise the option to acquire one privately owned parcel, and to request an additional appropriation of about $133,000 to fund the project match.

Commission president John Moore presented the project background: the downtown Dana block includes three contiguous buildings (addresses listed in meeting materials as 101, 104 and 116 Maple/addresses on the block). One building is county‑owned, one is owned by the town of Dana (the commission has an option to buy for $1) and the third is owned by Randy Haggard (there is an option agreement and prior option payments); the redevelopment staff concluded it would be cheaper to tear down all three buildings than to attempt partial preservation.

Moore said any asbestos abatement must follow prevailing‑wage rules; the demolition package therefore will be bid as two separate projects (asbestos abatement under prevailing wages and the remainder of the demolition work under standard bidding). The invitation for bids will include a tentative pre‑bid meeting on Oct. 23, with bid documents to be distributed to interested contractors via HWC (the project engineer) and through the commission office.

Commissioners discussed funding options for the local match. Moore said the additional appropriation would be roughly $133,000 and could be drawn from either the specified TIP area fund (noted in packet) or county general funds, but formal approval of the additional appropriation will be required by the County Council before funds may be expended. Moore noted portions of the commissioners’ discretionary budgets might also be used, but that alone would not cover the full match.

Motion and vote: Commissioner R.J. Deneman moved to approve proceeding with the Dana demolition project, including exercising the option on the Haggard parcel as previously agreed, approving the bidding documents and advertising, and requesting an additional appropriation of approximately $133,000 from either the TIP fund or county general for the match. Commissioner Kelly Somerville seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote; the president announced the ayes had it.

Next steps: staff said HWC will finalize bid documents and the pre‑bid meeting will be held as scheduled. The project timeline anticipates opening bids in November and, if awarded thereafter, encumbering appropriations in the current year; staff noted contractor payments likely will occur in 2026 and that county council approval of the additional appropriation is required before funds can be obligated.