Elkhart County commissioners approve bridge and courthouse spending, open bids for final 2025 paving package

The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners approved multiple appropriations and task orders on Sept. 2, 2025, including funding for bridge design and construction, a task order for courthouse architectural services, and various highway-related contracts, and opened bids for the county's final 2025 paving package.

County Attorney Steve Olsen said the board also approved a Title VI implementation plan required by the Indiana Department of Transportation to maintain federal grant eligibility for highway projects.

Why it matters: the measures authorize preliminary design, right-of-way acquisition and local matching funds tied to federal grants for county bridges and road projects, advance work on a historic courthouse renovation, and formalize the county's participation in a national opioid settlement that could bring funds to the county.

The board opened bids for the 2025-2 paving package and directed highway staff to review the bids and return with a recommendation. Charlie McKenzie of the highway department read the two offers on the record: "The first bid is from Niblock Excavating. Niblock Excavating's bid is $2,397,221.00. The second bid is from Reath Riley Construction Company. Reath Riley's bid is $2,714,477.00." Commissioners instructed staff to evaluate the bids and report back.

The board approved the maintenance bond for the 2024-2 paving program, beginning a three-year maintenance period that holds contractors to specifications. McKenzie explained the county retains 10% on contracts and requires a three-year maintenance bond to address any defects that appear after acceptance.

On bridge work, the board approved an additional appropriation of $1,000,000 from the EDIT fund to start design for Bridge 126 on County Road 6 over Christiana Creek near the airport, which the highway department described as structurally deficient and currently posted with a weight restriction. The department reported the county was awarded just over $7,000,000 in federal aid for design, right-of-way acquisition and construction; the county expects construction around 2031 and that roughly 80% of the $1,000,000 appropriation will be reimbursed by the federal grant.

Separately, commissioners approved an additional appropriation of $1,500,000 from the EDIT fund to finish right-of-way acquisitions for a phased highway project (phase 1a and 1b were discussed) and approved $2,000,000 from the MVH restricted fund for Bridge 410 construction and inspection, a project the county will partner on with the City of Goshen. The county said an interlocal agreement with Goshen is forthcoming and the city will lead the joint project.

The board approved work order No. 5 with Aben Marsh Consultants for GIS support services, not to exceed $30,000, to support the county's GIS data updates under a grant. The board also approved a task order with DLZ Indiana LLC for engineering and architectural services related to work at the Goshen Courthouse, described as project management, design-phase documents, bidding and construction administration. Steve Olsen said the task order has a not-to-exceed amount of $168,250 and recommended approval subject to final legal review.

In Buildings and Grounds, the board approved an additional appropriation described on the record as related to replacement of windows at the historic Goshen Courthouse. The transcript contains inconsistent dollar amounts for that appropriation: an initial reference to $168,250 and a later spoken figure of $1,688,250. The board approved the appropriation as presented; county staff should be consulted for the official adopted dollar figure and appropriation ordinance number.

The board also approved participation in a Purdue Pharma opioid settlement (case number 1923649) by adopting a resolution to opt in and receive settlement funds, and approved a payroll-related additional appropriation of $19,000 to cover weights and measures payroll through the end of 2025. Michael Pennington of Weights and Measures explained the appropriation covered payout and overlapping staffing after a longtime employee's retirement.

All motions recorded in the meeting carried unanimously. Several items noted follow-up steps: staff to return with bid recommendations, a forthcoming interlocal agreement with the City of Goshen, and final legal review for the DLZ task order.

Votes at a glance

- Receive and open bids for 2025-2 paving program: received two bids (Niblock Excavating $2,397,221.00; Reath Riley Construction Company $2,714,477.00); staff directed to review and return with recommendation; outcome: carries unanimously.

- Approve maintenance bond for 2024-2 paving program (three-year maintenance period): approved unanimously.

- Additional appropriation: EDIT fund $1,000,000 for Bridge 126 design (federal aid awarded ~ $7,000,000; construction expected around 2031; approx. 80% reimbursement anticipated): approved unanimously.

- Additional appropriation: EDIT fund $1,500,000 for right-of-way acquisition for phased highway project (phase 1a/1b): approved unanimously.

- Additional appropriation: MVH restricted fund $2,000,000 for Bridge 410 construction and inspection (City of Goshen partnership; interlocal agreement pending): approved unanimously.

- Approve Title VI implementation plan for Elkhart County Highway Department (INDOT/federal grant compliance): approved unanimously.

- Work Order No. 5 with Aben Marsh Consultants for GIS support services (MSA 05/06/2024) not to exceed $30,000: approved unanimously.

- Resolution approving participation in Purdue Pharma opioid settlement (case no. 1923649): approved unanimously.

- Task order with DLZ Indiana LLC for Goshen Courthouse engineering and architectural services (not-to-exceed $168,250 on record; approved subject to final legal review): approved unanimously.

- Additional appropriation (Buildings & Grounds) for Goshen Courthouse window work (transcript contains inconsistent figures $168,250 and $1,688,250; county should confirm adopted amount): approved unanimously.

- Additional appropriation from general fund $19,000 for Weights and Measures payroll through 2025: approved unanimously.

What's next: highway staff will review paving bids and return with a recommendation; the county will finalize interlocal terms with the City of Goshen for Bridge 410; legal review remains on the DLZ task order; and county staff should clarify the executed appropriation amount for courthouse window work.

Speakers quoted or referenced in coverage: Charlie McKenzie, Highway Department; Steve Olsen, County Attorney; Joe Lightman, Buildings & Grounds; Michael Pennington, Weights and Measures.