Vermillion County commissioners approve forwarding $8,500 text-notification proposal to county council; approve multiple routine items

Vermillion County commissioners voted to ask the county council to fund a countywide text-message notification system and handled multiple routine agenda items during their meeting, including a first reading of a claims-payment ordinance and approvals for sheriff vehicle purchases and a consulting agreement for Bridge 37.

The board approved a motion to forward a proposal for a text-notification service that would let departments (for example, the assessor, health department and sheriff) send targeted text messages to residents. Commissioner RJ Donovan said the proposal’s price is $8,500 up front and $6,500 per year thereafter for a minimum three-year contract and said the system could deliver up to 50,000 text messages. The board voted to forward the proposal to the county council so council can consider funding the contract.

Why it matters: commissioners and department heads said the county lacks a reliable way to notify many residents about meetings, public-health notices and other county business. H. Kilborn, County Assessor, described a possible setup in which a single countywide number could be used, with departments able to run subsidiary lists: “we can do, like, one county number that would encompass all of the county,” Kilborn said, adding departments could also operate their own lists.

Key outcomes and supporting details: the board asked the auditor’s office and county staff to provide the proposal to the county council for consideration. Commissioners discussed integration with existing alert systems: the county currently uses Nixle (funded by Duke Energy) and the proposal could integrate with the federal IPAWS emergency alert feed so emergency messages can flow automatically into the county system. Commissioners discussed asking Duke Energy whether it would reallocate funding that currently supports Nixle.

Votes at a glance: the board recorded several formal actions during the meeting. The board passed or moved forward the items listed below (vote counts reflect the three commissioners present and the meeting record’s repeated “Aye / Motion carries” statements):

- Motion to forward the text-notification contract to county council for funding (motion carried, 3-0). - County ordinance 2025-4: close the courthouse on Jan. 10, 2025, due to inclement weather (adopted, 3-0). - County ordinance 2025-5: first reading of an ordinance allowing certain claim payments in advance of board allowance (first reading approved, 3-0). The ordinance cites Indiana Code 36-2-6-4.5, which lists categories of expenses that may be paid before formal board allowance when supported by invoice and auditor certification. - Approval to purchase three 2024 Chevrolet Tahoes for the sheriff’s office (approved, 3-0); a canine-capable vehicle was included in the request and the sheriff’s office indicated funds are available in its budget. - Approval of an LPA consulting contract for Bridge 37 with Clark Dietz (approved, 3-0). - CCMG2024-2 road project: two bids were opened (Payment Solutions Inc., $425,486.52; Evergreen Roadworks LLC, $500,489.38) and the board took the bids under advisement pending consultant review; the board scheduled a short special meeting to consider award after Clark Dietz reviews bid documents.

On fiscal procedures, the board conducted the first reading of county ordinance 2025-5, which mirrors provisions of Indiana Code 36-2-6-4.5. The ordinance text read on the record lists allowable preapproved payments including payroll, leases, maintenance and service agreements, utility payments, taxes, bond payments and emergency expenses. The text requires a fully itemized invoice and auditor certification and requires the board to review the preapproved payments at its next regular or special meeting.

Public and interagency items: commissioners instructed county counsel to prepare paperwork to transfer ownership of Perrysville Park into county ownership after the trustee’s office requested formal transfer; commissioners said the county has already maintained and invested in the park and that the transfer is largely a formality. The board also agreed to provide letters of support for multiple broadband providers seeking state or federal grants to extend fiber in Vermillion County; Timothy McCombs, a representative who requested support, said the grants require no local match and argued county letters improve applicants’ scoring.

Emergency medical services update: Julie Lanzonet, Park County EMS (reporting on ambulance service for the county period July 1–Dec. 31), delivered a six-month financial and operations summary. Lanzonet reported total revenue of $611,902.26 and total expenses of $646,590.80 for the period, producing a difference of $34,688.54 (expenses greater than revenue). She said crews completed 787 transports and 23 transfers in that window, and that roughly 35.7% of calls were reached within five minutes, which likely reflects calls that originate in more densely populated parts of the county. Lanzonet noted seasonal variance (higher call volumes in summer) and told commissioners the agency is monitoring how new state rules that affect insurance payments will change future revenue.

Highway department and personnel issues: the board discussed a proposed “Highway for a Day” job-shadow program with local high schools and raised pay concerns for highway foremen. Commissioners said current foreman compensation (described in the meeting as “about 70 cents” additional pay under the present structure) is insufficient and directed staff to explore budget options and possible interim adjustments before the next salary ordinance cycle. The highway department also presented a right-of-way service agreement for Bridge 37 and recommended approval of the Clark Dietz consulting contract, which the board approved.

What’s next: staff will send the text-notification proposal and the signed contract documents where applicable to the county council for funding consideration. Clark Dietz will review CCMG bid packets and advise the board; the board set a short special meeting (noted in the record as occurring on the “20 first” at 8:15 a.m.) to consider awarding the CCMG contract after consultant review. County counsel will prepare documentation to transfer Perrysville Park ownership as instructed. The auditor’s and highway offices will follow up on budget and pay adjustments related to highway foremen as requested by the commissioners.

Sources and documentary references: the board read the text of Indiana Code 36-2-6-4.5 aloud while considering ordinance 2025-5; the meeting record contains bids and contractor names for CCMG2024-2, the Clark Dietz LPA consulting contract for Bridge 37, and the sheriff’s vehicle purchase request.