Votes at a glance: Elkhart County commissioners approve ordinances, leases, appropriations and multiple grants

The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 29 voted unanimously on a series of motions covering minutes and claims, travel, ordinances, leases, loans, appropriations and grants. The board recorded no roll-call oppositions in the meeting transcript; motions passed by voice vote.

Summary of key votes and outcomes (all carried unanimously unless noted):

Approval of minutes and claims • Approval of minutes of Sept. 22 and allowance of claims — motion approved by voice vote.

Sheriff's office travel • Out-of-state travel approved for forensic specialist Laura Sliva to attend shooting analysis and reconstruction training in Florida. Presented by Jeff Siegel, Sheriff’s Office.

Electric vehicle parking ordinance (judicial center) • Ordinance to establish parking restrictions and fees for electric-vehicle (EV) charging spaces at the Elkhart County Judicial Center. The ordinance defines "electric vehicle," restricts EV parking to vehicles actively charging, prohibits parking in EV spaces on Saturdays and Sundays or between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. Monday–Friday, and authorizes towing and citation for violations. Fees: 50 cents per kilowatt-hour for the first four continuous hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday–Friday and $2.50 per kilowatt-hour for each hour after the first four hours; 5 p.m.–9 p.m. Monday–Friday set at $2.50 per kilowatt-hour. The measure was introduced by County Attorney Steve Olson and approved by the board.

Leases and conduit license with city of Goshen • Resolution approving two leases and a conduit license with the city of Goshen: (1) lease of space for city courts (use of lower level where Superior Court 4 used to be), term Oct. 1, 2025–Aug. 31, 2030, $1,000 per month rent; (2) lease for city fire administrative offices (main/middle floor near Superior Court 3), same term, $1,500 per month rent; (3) license to use city conduit for county fiber — perpetual/permanent license (100-year fallback) allowing one 288-strand fiber cable, subject to law. The city’s board of works had already approved corresponding documents.

Loan and appropriations • Resolution authorizing an internal loan of up to $6,222 from the county’s cumulative capital fund to the treasurer’s office for a copier purchase and maintenance project; to be repaid from the treasurer’s budget. • Additional appropriation of $300,000 from the general fund for independent accounting assistance (auditing/accounting services). • Additional appropriation of $60,000 from the lease revenue bonds fund for new courthouse expenses (refund receipts to be appropriated). • Additional appropriation of $600,000 from the general fund to the county self-insurance (liability) fund (covers prior $300,000 and the additional $300,000). • Additional appropriation of $200,000 from the general fund for renovations to the historic Goshen Courthouse for repurposing as county offices.

Grants and emergency management items • Approval of AEP Foundation grant for $30,000 (100% reimbursable) to support replacement 800 MHz radios for emergency management. • Approval of State Homeland Security Program grants for cybersecurity enhancements and for emergency response preparedness (100% reimbursable); the cybersecurity application included input from IT and the auditor’s office. • Norfolk Southern safety grant of $10,000 awarded for 800 MHz radios. • NIPSCO safety grant ($4,000) allocated toward training: $2,000 for Matt Overholt and $2,000 for Courtney Matthews to attend a NACO leadership course; the county later adjusted how the grant was applied to radio support.

Procedure and voting • Most motions were moved and seconded on the record, followed by a voice vote of "Aye;" the transcript records each of these actions as carried unanimously.

The board’s next steps include publishing adopted ordinances according to state law and processing signed copies of adopted documents. Commissioners and staff noted they will monitor implementation issues such as access to insurance for event organizers and the need for future ordinance revisions.