The Elkhart County Council on Oct. 16 approved a series of additional appropriations and financial actions, including funds for Goshen Courthouse renovations, an independent accounting engagement to reconcile prior treasurer accounts, multiple bridge replacements and permitting software, and it adopted the countys 2026 budget and salary ordinance.

Council actions included a reappointment to the Nappanee Public Library Board, formal rescission of an internal resolution related to library-board appointments, approval of a local interlocal agreement with the town of Middlebury for TIF-funded utilities, and several requests from the highway and planning departments for bridge, equipment and software spending.

The meeting front-loaded the most time-sensitive items: county administrator Jeff Taylor described the Goshen Courthouse interior work and asked the council to appropriate $200,000 from the general fund to continue interior restoration and related work. Taylor said crews are restoring original hardwood floors and coordinating with the city of Goshen on city-occupied spaces; the council approved the $200,000 appropriation 6-0.

The council also approved a $175,000 appropriation to pay Baker Tilly to reconcile county bank accounts through Dec. 31, 2024 and to recommend improved monthly procedures for the treasurers office. Taylor and other speakers said the independent work is intended to bring the books to a materially reconciled state for the State Board of Accounts, not to pursue costly penny-level reconciliations. The motion passed 6-0.

Planning and development asked for $265,430 from the general fund to implement a new permitting product through OpenGov (staff said it would replace the countys EnerGov permitting product and cover implementation and the first-year software fee). The council approved the request 6-0.

Highway department requests for bridge projects and equipment were approved across several funds. The council approved the following locally funded or county-funded bridge and equipment appropriations:
- $475,000 (EDIT fund) for preliminary engineering, right-of-way and construction inspection for Bridge 232 (County Road 11 over Yellow Creek)
- $550,000 (EDIT fund) for preliminary engineering and related costs for Bridge 143 (County Road 3 over Bogo Creek); the county expects an 80.2% federal reimbursement for construction and construction inspection only
- $650,000 (EDIT fund) for Bridge 347 replacement (County Road 44 over Stoney Creek)
- $450,000 (Cumulative Bridge fund) for superstructure rehabilitation on Bridge 136 (County Road 1 over Boggo Creek)
- $625,000 (Cumulative Bridge fund) for superstructure rehabilitation on Bridge 402 (Indiana Avenue over Rock Run Creek)
- $60,000 (Motor Vehicle Highway fund) to buy new traffic counters and related equipment
- $176,000 (Motor Vehicle Highway fund) to replace a mower tractor used on major mowing routes
All of those motions passed 6-0.

Other capital and TIF items: the council approved $250,000 from the South Bend TIF fund to begin reconstruction of Bridge 332 in Baintertown, as the first of a planned series of requests tied to a larger $1.3 million project (the council voted 6-0). A separate request, $400,000 from the Middlebury Southeast TIF district to support utilities and infrastructure tied to planned development, drew debate over whether the county or town should fund utility infrastructure; the council approved that appropriation on a 5-1 roll call after discussion and a redevelopment commission recommendation.

A related but separate request for $500,000 from the Middlebury East TIF for design on a wastewater treatment plant expansion was not approved at this meeting; council members moved to deny and then ultimately tabled the item so the full council can revisit terms including alternative cost splits.

The council also approved a $600,000 general-fund transfer to the countys liability fund (the request corrected an earlier bookkeeping omission) and approved an additional $60,000 payment into a courthouse construction bond account tied to a vendor dispute and settlement payments for a security scanner. Both passed 6-0.

Appointments, rescissions and agreements: Council members voted to rescind internal policy set out in Resolution 2024-07 regarding library-board appointment procedures (legal counsel said the resolutions internal references to the finance committee needed revision); the council approved revoking that internal resolution so staff can draft updated policy for the next meeting. The council then reappointed Sherry Mullen to the Nappanee Public Library Board for a four-year term ending Oct. 31, 2029; the motion to reappoint passed unanimously.

The county attorney presented an interlocal (CC2025-20) with the town of Middlebury to fund sewer and water main extensions; the agreement limits county liability and preserves the countys 100% receipt of incremental TIF allocations per the agreement. The council approved the interlocal on a 5-0 roll call.

Budget and ordinances: the council conducted required second readings and votes for the salary ordinance, the recorders records-perpetuation ordinance and the formal adoption of the countys 2026 budget. The council adopted the 2026 Elkhart County budget and related salary ordinance as presented (final adoption votes recorded 5-0). The council also approved the Nappanee Public Library 2026 budget during the meeting.

Discussion and next steps: council members repeatedly emphasized that several appropriations represent multi-year projects (bridges, TIF-funded infrastructure and the wastewater expansion) and that many items will return for additional appropriations or final construction approvals. Council members asked that staff return with clearer cost splits and interlocal signings for TIF items before more funds are spent; the Middlebury East TIF design request was tabled to allow those discussions.

Votes at a glance (key items, fund, outcome, roll-call or tally)
- $200,000 (General Fund) for Goshen Courthouse renovations — Approved 6-0
- $175,000 (General Fund) to Baker Tilly for account reconciliation (through Dec. 31, 2024) — Approved 6-0
- $600,000 (General Fund) to liability fund (transfer) — Approved 6-0
- $265,430 (General Fund) for OpenGov permitting implementation — Approved 6-0
- Bridge appropriations: $475,000 (EDIT), $550,000 (EDIT), $650,000 (EDIT), $450,000 (Cumulative Bridge), $625,000 (Cumulative Bridge) — each approved 6-0
- $60,000 (Motor Vehicle Highway) for traffic counters — Approved 6-0
- $176,000 (Motor Vehicle Highway) for tractor replacement — Approved 6-0
- $250,000 (South Bend TIF) for Bridge 332 — Approved 6-0
- $400,000 (Middlebury Southeast TIF) for utilities/infrastructure — Approved 5-1 (roll call)
- $500,000 (Middlebury East TIF) for wastewater-treatment design — Tabled (action to table approved) — no final appropriation
- Repeal Resolution 2024-07 (internal appointments policy) — Approved (motion to rescind; council instructed counsel to prepare revised policy)
- Reappointment: Sherry Mullen to Nappanee Public Library Board through 10/31/2029 — Approved unanimously
- CC2025-20 interlocal agreement with Town of Middlebury (utilities) — Approved 5-0 (roll call)
- Adoption of 2026 Elkhart County budget (Ordinance CC2025-19) and related salary ordinance (CC2025-17) — Adopted 5-0

What the council did not decide: the Middlebury East TIF construction funding and larger multi-year wastewater construction requests were not approved at this meeting; staff and redevelopment officials were asked to return with clarified cost shares and interlocal language.

Ending: The council indicated several items will return in November or later as multi-year projects proceed; staff were directed to provide updated interlocal agreements and policy language where requested, and the meeting adjourned after public comment and formal adoption votes.