Kosciusko County commissioners approve routine contracts, payments and grant applications

Kosciusko County commissioners approved a series of routine contracts, payments and grant actions and heard operational updates from transit and hospice providers during a regular meeting.

The commissioners voted to accept a quote from D and D Electric to replace exterior courthouse lighting wiring, approve a one-year planned-maintenance contract with Core Mechanical Services for HVAC work across county buildings, and to authorize submission of a participation/release form connected to the proposed Purdue Pharma bankruptcy settlement. Commissioners also approved a payment request to a Park & Rec contractor and granted the county emergency management office permission to apply for a federal homeland security grant.

Those actions matter because they commit county funds and administrative authority to maintain public facilities, pursue federal grant funding, and position the county to receive a share of any future opioid-settlement proceeds.

The lighting work: County Highway Department staff presented a D and D Electric quote to replace aging exterior wiring on the courthouse, saying the existing wiring is deteriorating. The county approved the quote, which staff reported as $16,808 for the full project.

HVAC maintenance: County maintenance staff said Core Mechanical Services will continue planned maintenance on the county's HVAC systems under a 2025 contract costing $26,295, a $1,116 increase from the previous year. Commissioners approved the contract for all county buildings.

Opioid settlement participation: A county staff member advised…