DuBois County commissioners approve paint and beads purchases, transfer funds and award $1.6M Community Crossings paving contract

DuBois County commissioners on April 7 approved several highway department requests: purchases of road‑striping paint and glass beads, a transfer of $13,000 to speed upcoming paving, and the award of a Community Crossings paving contract to the lowest bidder. The highway superintendent also updated the board on mine reclamation work, part‑time summer hiring, and a shortage of temporary flood‑closure signs.

Paint and beads: Highway Superintendent Mr. Lincoln recommended Potters Industry for glass beads ($6,000) and Jasper Industrial for paint ($31,360). Lincoln said painting work will cover dozens of roads and that the department planned to use approximately 2,200 gallons of yellow paint and 12,000 pounds of glass beads; the transcript included an unclear figure for white paint. The board voted to accept the purchases by voice vote.

Transfer of appropriations: Commissioners approved a transfer of $13,000 within the highway budget so paving can proceed earlier than planned. The motion passed by voice vote.

Community Crossings paving contract: County staff opened bids at 9:00 a.m. from three bidders: Top of Our Paving ($1,607,946.30), CNR Construction ($1,619,398.00) and E & B Paving ($1,666,900.00). Later in the meeting staff recommended awarding the contract to the low bidder; commissioners approved the recommendation by voice vote. The transcript shows the board’s motion and voice approval, but individual vote counts were not specified.

Highway operational updates: Lincoln reported ongoing reclamation work at the White Stallion mine where crews had stabilized slides with boulders and aggregate at the North Pitt slides; he said landowners had not raised formal complaints and that nearby residents are watching activity. He described two part‑time summer hires (one mowing, one spraying) and said the department is seeking an additional sprayer operator.

Flood signs: Lincoln said the county’s supply of temporary “road closed / high water” folding signs has dwindled (he said the department once had about 35 and now only four remain because of theft and vandalism). He asked the board to consider purchasing sturdier “flip‑style” flood signs used by other counties; staff will investigate options and legal constraints.

Facilities and equipment: Lincoln presented a five‑year rotation plan for trucks and machinery and discussed whether the county should expand maintenance building capacity or wait because an upcoming corridor project may require relocation. He also asked permission to sign two federal‑aid engineering contracts and a New Crossing project contract; commissioners authorized the engineering sign‑on authority for federal aid projects.

Other business: The board declared various county items surplus (printers, ambulance batteries, office furniture); a fireproof metal cabinet will be reassigned to the veterans’ services office. Separately, the county agreed to increase the county travel credit card limit from $2,000 to not exceed $5,000 to address hotel reservations for county staff travel; that motion carried.

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded in the meeting): - Change IN DOT ITAP primary contact to highway superintendent — approved by voice vote (motion carries). - Transfer $13,000 within highway budget for earlier paving — approved by voice vote. - Award glass beads purchase to Potters Industry ($6,000) and paint to Jasper Industrial ($31,360) — approved by voice vote. - Accept Community Crossings paving bid from lowest bidder (Top of Our Paving; bid opened at $1,607,946.30) — award motion approved by voice vote. - Approve WTH NextGen 9‑1‑1 proposal contingent on added contract terms — approved by voice vote (see separate story). - Declare listed equipment surplus and reassign fireproof cabinet to veterans’ services — approved by voice vote. - Increase county travel credit card limit to not exceed $5,000 — approved by voice vote.

Why it matters: The purchases and contract award support routine road maintenance and safety in DuBois County and accelerate paving work; the 9‑1‑1 mapping update (approved separately) and the credit card limit change affect operational readiness for emergency and county staff travel.

Next steps: Highway staff will execute purchases and finalize the Community Crossings contract with the awarded vendor, pursue additional paving in a later application cycle, research more durable flood signage, and present facility expansion cost estimates if commissioners ask to pursue a building project.