Dearborn County commissioners approve EMS appointment, three grant applications and bridge overlays; several contract and interlocal items pass

Dearborn County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved a cluster of administrative and capital measures, including appointing Jason Sullivan as the county EMS director for 2025, authorizing three grant applications tied to community corrections and probation, approving six polymeric (epoxy) bridge deck overlays, and consenting to an assignment of engineering contracts and an amendment to an interlocal agreement with neighboring Ohio County.

The measures were presented by county staff and department directors during the meeting and were approved by voice vote. Presiding commissioners opened each vote with “All in favor?” and recorded “Aye. Motion carries.”

The board appointed Jason Sullivan as EMS director for calendar year 2025. A motion to appoint Sullivan passed by unanimous voice vote. The commissioners and staff discussed the county’s EMS funding arrangements: EMS units receive contract payments routed through an EMS line-item (described in the meeting as the “EMS lit”) that currently requires the funds to be used primarily for staffing but allows organizations to ask commissioners for permission to purchase equipment if staffing needs are met. Staff said supplemental distributions had been made in past years to Aurora and Bristow (bride/Bridal in the transcript) for new units.

County staff asked the commissioners to approve three grant applications to the state Department of Corrections and related programs. The presenter said the applications were for: an intensive probation program ($71,005), the JCAP program supporting a JCAP director position ($97,785), and the community corrections program ($600,371). The presenter said the community corrections award historically has been funded at $515,371 and the requested increase was to cover rising health-insurance costs for grant-funded positions; the presenter said he expected the state to approve amounts at or near last year’s funding levels but asked the board to authorize the applications. The board approved submission of the three grant applications by voice vote.

The commissioners voted to award polymeric (epoxy) thin-deck overlays for six bridges as part of the county’s bridge preservation program. County Engineer Todd Lisonbee described the epoxy overlay process—sandblasting, two epoxy coats and a fine stone aggregate—and presented low quotes for six structures: Chesterville Road (Bridge 19), Hogan Hill Road (Bridge 26), Redbridge Road (Bridge 29, quoted as a two-phase job because it is a dead-end), Geiger Road (Bridge 50), North Dearborn Road (Bridge 103) and Pribble Road (Bridge 161, proposed as a two-phase work to avoid full closures near a fire station and hospital). Commissioners raised public-safety and traffic-notice concerns; Lisonbee said work would be advertised in advance, coordinated with EMS and done with flagging or limited closures as required. The motion to approve the listed overlays carried by voice vote.

The board also consented to the assignment of the county’s contracts with the engineering firm FPBH to an acquiring firm (identified in the meeting as Gonzales Incorporated). County staff said the local FPBH office will continue to operate from the same location and that the assignment requires county approval; the commissioners approved the consent to assignment.

Other approved items included an amendment to an interlocal cooperation agreement between Dearborn County and Ohio County to add $5,000 from Ohio County toward community corrections positions (the board ratified the amendment) and approval of an easement agreement related to a long-running property transfer to Saint Elizabeth (the board ratified a previously-signed transition committee signature). The commissioners also approved routine items on the agenda—claims, payroll and minutes—by voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Appointment: Motion to appoint Jason Sullivan as EMS director for 2025 — Approved (voice vote). Presented as a standard annual appointment; board discussed the EMS funding contract terms and supplemental distributions.

- Grants: Motion to approve grant applications to the Indiana Department of Corrections (intensive probation — $71,005; JCAP — $97,785; community corrections — $600,371) — Approved (voice vote). Presenter said historical funding levels have been lower and that the requested increases are to cover higher insurance costs for grant-funded staff.

- Bridges: Motion to approve polymeric/epoxy thin-deck overlays for Bridges 19 (Chesterville Rd), 26 (Hogan Hill Rd), 29 (Redbridge Rd — two-phase), 50 (Geiger Rd), 103 (North Dearborn Rd), 161 (Pribble Rd — two-phase) — Approved (voice vote). County Engineer described process, schedule, traffic control and advance public notice.

- Contracts: Consent to assignment of FPBH contracts to Gonzales Incorporated — Approved (voice vote). County staff said the local office will remain in place; assignment requires county consent.

- Interlocal: Amendment No. 1 to interlocal cooperation agreement with Ohio County (additional $5,000 toward community corrections positions) — Approved (voice vote).

- Easement: Approval and ratification of an easement agreement for AltaFiber/Cincinnati Bell utilities called for in the Saint Elizabeth property transfer — Approved (voice vote).

- Routine: Approval of claims, payroll and minutes — Approved (voice vote).

What the votes mean

Most motions were routine administrative approvals or contract-level consents rather than new policy. The grant approvals authorize staff to submit applications and, if awarded, to return later to appropriate the funds through the county budget and county council process. The bridge overlays are preservation projects intended to extend service life by keeping chlorides and water from penetrating bridge decks; county staff said select structures will also receive minor repairs before overlays are applied. The contract assignment will not change day-to-day service, staff said, though invoices and corporate bookkeeping will flow through the acquiring firm.

The board did not record roll-call tallies in the meeting transcript; each motion was passed by unanimous voice vote during the meeting.

Next steps

- Grant applications will be submitted to the Department of Corrections; budgets will be adjusted and appropriations sought through county council if funding is awarded.

- Bridge overlay work will be advertised, scheduled with advance public notices and coordinated with EMS, local fire departments and broadcasters as described by the county engineer.