Commissioners approve $2.94M Wabash Greenway design contract, personnel changes and multiple grants

Tippecanoe County commissioners on March 3 approved a $2,940,230 design services contract for Phase 2 of wall construction on the Wabash Greenway pedestrian trail, authorized county action to proceed with a joint-user maintenance agreement related to a US 52 trailhead, approved personnel and policy changes and accepted multiple grants and property transactions.

Highway staff presented the largest item: a design services contract with United Consulting Services for $2,940,230, to be funded through a RAISE grant administered by the county. "This is funded through a raise grant; Tippecanoe County is administering the grant," a highway presenter said as the board voted in favor. The motion to approve the contract passed by voice vote.

The board also authorized a letter to indicate the county's willingness to enter a joint-user maintenance agreement (JUMA) with the state to process a permit for trailhead improvements under U.S. 52. Highway staff said state language on the JUMA remained under negotiation and that the letter would allow permitting to move forward while final JUMA language is resolved.

Other fiscal and operational actions approved by the commissioners included: - Approval of a warranty deed for County Road 500 East, Parcel 6, from 52 T LLC for $49,300 (motion approved by voice vote). - Approval of a road closure request for the Produce Cycling road race on March 29, beginning and ending at Southwestern School and using a short segment of 800 South; organizers will provide police and volunteers along the route (motion approved by voice vote). - Authorization of policy 06:33 (on-call compensation), listing eligible departments including maintenance, highway garage, sheriff, community corrections, information technology, coroner and the prosecutor's office (adopted 3–0 by voice vote). - Adoption of an updated military leave policy (Policy 06:40) that incorporates USERRA language and increases county-paid military leave from 15 to 30 days (adopted 3–0 by voice vote). - Conversion of the 40-commissioner position from part time to full time effective July 1, 2025, at an annual salary of $101,773; meeting discussion noted that most compensation for work done by the 40 commissioner is reimbursed to the county at roughly 66 percent (motion approved 3–0). - Approval of a TIF-related agreement with Taft Law for $75,000 in bond work and $30,000 for project agreement work; staff said those costs will likely be reimbursed in the project process (motion approved by voice vote). - Adoption of a resolution authorizing disposal of a 2008 Crown Victoria under public purchasing/disposal statutes (resolution adopted by voice vote). - Permission to apply for an Indiana Department of Health grant for HIV prevention services (permission granted by voice vote). - Acceptance of a $10,000 tire-collection grant awarded through IDEM to support a recycling day run by the solid waste district (motion approved 3–0). The board recorded the grant amount: "$10,000 grant, by the way," during the discussion.

The county also received an annual township assistance report. A township office representative told the board the office received 528 requests for township assistance in 2024; the presenter said 329 were approved and 274 were denied and that the total value of benefits provided in 2024 was $162,620, with the largest share for housing assistance ($141,370), about $2,000 for utilities and roughly $20,000 for cremations and burials.

Commissioners voted by voice on most items; when roll calls occurred they recorded unanimous 3–0 approvals by Commissioner Jennifer Murtaugh, Commissioner Brown and Commissioner Byers where names were recorded. Several actions were described as approved by general assent with "all in favor say aye."