Kosciusko County commissioners approve 2025 road program, bid award for Justice Building work and fleet purchases

Kosciusko County Commissioners on May 6 approved a package of routine and capital items, including the county'025 road program, acceptance of the lowest bid for renovations to the Justice Building, three vehicle purchases for the sheriff's office, renewal of the county's liability/work-comp program with Bliss McKnight, and authorization to submit a state and federal transit grant application for CABS.

The actions are part of the commissioners' regular business to maintain county roads and facilities and to secure equipment and coverage for county operations.

Highway department official Steve Mariani told commissioners the 2025 road program would touch "about 138 miles of our roads this year," and noted the county maintains roughly 1,100 miles of road. The board voted to approve the road program and gave Mariani permission to upload the 2024 Highway annual report to Indiana LTAP as required.

Mariani also asked the board to "deem me certified to sign the contract extension with Ramsbottom for the Lakeland Landfill after the review of Ed Hornsby and the contract." The commissioners approved that authorization by motion.

Sheriff Mike asked for and received approval to purchase three pieces of equipment: a 2025 Dodge Durango for the investigative division (listed at $40,941), a 2025 Dodge Durango for inmate transport (listed at about $41,089), and a 2025 enclosed V-nose trailer for equipment storage (listed at $8,000). The sheriff said the investigator vehicle would come from the vehicle budget, the transport vehicle from commissary funds, and the trailer from donations; the commissioners approved all three purchases.

The board opened and reviewed bids for renovations to the public defender's office and the clerk's voter area located in the Justice Building. According to staff, three responsive bids were received after one contractor declined to bid on the full project. After staff comparison of line items, commissioners voted to accept the lowest responsible bidder for the project; the motion passed.

County staff presented competing quotes for the county's liability/workers compensation insurance. After meetings with both firms and discussion of services offered, commissioners voted to renew the program with Bliss McKnight, citing the company's past services and value-added programs that the county has used.

Gail (assessor) presented an agreement with the Michiana-area council of governments (Maycog/MACOG) for a pictometry flight completed during the reassessment cycle. The total cost reported was $67,773; the assessor said half the cost would be paid from the 2025 budget and the remainder from the 2026 budget. The board approved the agreement and payment plan.

Kristen, a representative of CABS, requested county approval of the documents needed to submit an INDOT operating and capital grant application for 2026. The application amounts listed were $485,616 in federal funds and $136,817 in state funds (amounts subject to change). CABS also listed capital requests for two replacement Ford Transit 16-plus passenger vehicles priced at $132,000 each, with federal funds covering approximately $112,200 per vehicle. Commissioners approved the authorizing resolution and related grant documents needed for submission.

Administrative items included formal recognition of Tom Roth as the county veteran of the month for May and a proclamation declaring May 2025 Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month presented by Donnie Barton of Kosciusko County ABATE; both ceremonial items were accepted by the board.

Redevelopment commission staff provided the required report under Indiana Code 36-7-14 (redevelopment reporting to commissioners and council) listing balances for eight TIF districts and outstanding bond amounts; staff read the balances into the record as part of the meeting.

The commissioners closed the meeting with scheduling notes and no further public reports; the board set its next meeting for May 20, 2025.

Ending: The meeting record shows routine unanimous "aye" motions for the items listed; no roll-call tallies were entered into the record.