Daviess County commissioners award road paving bid, approve insurance renewals and ask APC to review zoning

Daviess County commissioners on Feb. 14 approved a low bid for a county-maintained road paving project, signed off on multiple insurance renewals, authorized county highway staff to sign Local Public Agency (LPA) documents with INDOT and asked the county’s Area Plan Commission (APC) to deliver a recommendation on whether to repeal the county zoning ordinance.

The highway department recommended awarding the CCMG 2024-2 paving contract to E and B Paving for $1,492,000.65; commissioners approved the award by a 3-0 vote. Commissioner discussion noted the CCMG share of the project would cover $1,119,000 and the county’s match would be about $373,000. The highway office said the contractor had planned to begin paving in May but the start may be delayed to coordinate work with an Old 50 bridge overlay and related detours.

The meeting also recorded several insurance decisions. The board voted 3-0 to change the county’s workers’ compensation carrier to West Bend (the motion passed unanimously). Commissioners approved a separate, nominal volunteer/reserve-officer coverage plan (about $908 total per year for seven volunteers, as presented) and approved property/casualty and cyber insurance renewals subject to follow-up. The commission approved GIE for property and casualty coverage for 2025 and approved a cyber insurance renewal with Coalition; the board tabled a final decision on a competing property quote and asked staff to return with deductible/premium comparisons at the next meeting.

Other business included a routine annual motion granting the highway supervisor authority to sign LPA DocuSign agreements with INDOT; the board approved the delegation by motion (3-0) and asked staff to continue bringing significant agreements to the commission for formal review when needed. Commissioners also received formal notice that the local levy received a five-year Corps of Engineers classification that places it on the Corps’ active levy list.

On zoning, the commission voted 3-0 to ask the Area Plan Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) to review the county zoning ordinance and deliver a concise, nonbinding recommendation by May 1. Commissioners said the review should present succinct pros and cons of keeping or repealing the ordinance, and that the commissioners would consider APC/BZA input when making a final decision by midyear.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes from Jan. 28 meeting — Motion passed 3-0. - Award CCMG 2024-2 paving contract to E and B Paving for $1,492,000.65 — Motion passed 3-0. - Authorize highway supervisor to sign LPA DocuSign agreements with INDOT — Motion passed 3-0. - Approve West Bend as workers’ compensation provider — Motion passed 3-0. - Approve National Union volunteer/reserve-officer coverage (nominal annual cost) — Motion passed 3-0. - Approve GIE for 2025 property and casualty renewal (subject to follow-up on deductibles) — Motion passed 3-0. - Approve Coalition cyber insurance renewal — Motion passed 3-0. - Table remaining property-insurance decisions until next meeting and request deductible/premium scenarios — Motion passed 3-0. - Approve Certified Tech Park amendment (three-county agreement enabling enhanced funding) — Motion passed 3-0. - Request APC/BZA evaluate zoning ordinance and return nonbinding recommendation by May 1 — Motion passed 3-0. - Approve payroll claims and adjourn — Motion passed 3-0.

Background and context

Chris Winkler, Daviess County highway supervisor, presented the low bid recommendation for the CCMG 2024-2 contract and described the county’s timeline and the planned coordination with a bridge overlay on Old 50. Winkler also described an ongoing assessment of a proposed heavy shelving system for the clerk’s office; RQAW (architect/engineer) is evaluating whether structural reinforcement is required before the county orders the system.

Insurance broker Paul (presenter) reviewed the county’s package of coverages, comparing recent renewals and explaining deductible and premium changes presented by carriers. He said the county’s workers’ compensation renewal showed a lower premium rate from the prior offer and that the county’s experience modification factor (mod) had moved from 1.44 to 1.40. He also presented quotes and tradeoffs for property policies (noting Chubb proposed a higher wind/hail deductible and that alternate offers differ on flood/earthquake limits); commissioners asked staff to obtain premium impacts for higher deductibles (examples requested: $50,000, $75,000 and $100,000) and to return with those figures at the next meeting.

Levy and other items

Commissioners were presented a formal letter documenting that the county levy has received a Corps of Engineers five-year inspection and is now classified as an active levy, which the presenter said would make the levy eligible for Corps repairs if needed.

What’s next

Staff were directed to provide the commission with the following: (1) RQAW’s recommendation on the clerk’s shelving system and any structural reinforcement required; (2) deductible-versus-premium comparisons for property insurance options, including buy-down prices; (3) coordination plans and timing for the Old 50 paving and bridge overlay; and (4) a written, concise APC/BZA recommendation on zoning by May 1. The commission set the property-insurance item to return at the next meeting and otherwise completed its agenda.