Elkhart County commissioners approve bridge appropriations, tower license and several contracts
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Summary
At its Aug. 4 meeting the Elkhart County Board of Commissioners approved $2 million in bridge appropriations, accepted bids for a county crack-seal program for staff review, extended a consultant contract, and approved a tower-license deal that trades tower access for internet service.
The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 4 approved a series of appropriations, contract amendments and licensing agreements that county officials said are intended to address structurally deficient bridges, continue information-technology support and expand broadband access in parts of the county.
The most consequential fiscal actions were two $1,000,000 appropriations for bridge replacement work: one for Bridge 253 on County Road 1 south of County Road 36 in the Walter Roos area and one for Bridge 193 on County Road 43 north of County Road 42 in the Millersburg area. Tim Jackson, with the Elkhart County Highway Department, said both bridges were identified as structurally deficient during the countywide inspection program and that design work is nearly complete.
“These funds are to move forward with construction, right-of-way acquisition and associated costs,” Jackson said. Commissioners approved both appropriations unanimously; Jackson said construction is expected next year.
The board also received and accepted three bids for the 2025 crack-seal program so staff can review them and return with a recommendation. Tim Jackson reported the bids as follows: Evans Development Company, $1,098,400; Scudellar Construction Incorporated, $607,500 (noted as needing confirmation); and Canby Asphalt Seal Coating Inc., $640,000 (also to be confirmed). The commissioners voted to accept the bids for staff review and bring a recommendation back to the board.
The board approved a second amendment to an independent-contractor agreement with North River Consulting extending construction-inspection services for the new county courts complex through Sept. 30, 2025. Steve Olson, the county attorney, presented the amendment.
County administrators also moved money for county operations: the board voted unanimously to appropriate $300,000 to replenish the county self-insurance (property and liability) fund and approved an additional $302,199 from the general fund to continue consulting CIO services from Mosier Consulting, shifting money from payroll into consulting to maintain IT support through the end of the year.
As part of the county’s ongoing IT and GIS work, the board approved work order No. 14 under a master products-and-services agreement with Mosier Consulting. Olson said the work order covers GIS Data Hub support, a database migration and environmental documentation with a not-to-exceed amount of $87,500. The contract’s hourly rates were described as $115 for a data developer and $155 for a data engineer.
On broadband infrastructure, the commissioners approved a tower-license agreement for the county tower at 18400 County Road 50 in New Paris. Under the agreement the private company 4 Way Computer Products Inc. will place equipment on the tower under a five-year license. In exchange the county will receive internet service specified at 1,000 megabits per second download and 250 megabits per second upload at no direct cost to the county.
Other items approved by unanimous vote included routine matters such as approval of the July 28 minutes and allowance of claims; a creditable NSI quote for wireless access points that netted to $0 after returns and negotiations; and a noise-ordinance waiver for Michiana Automania allowing amplified or noisy activity at the RV Hall of Fame event site until 11:30 p.m. on the requested nights. Brad and Morgan Henderson, event organizers, told commissioners the show typically attracts about 5,000 spectators per day and could be larger this year.
Votes at a glance: the board recorded unanimous approval for the July 28 minutes; allowance of claims; acceptance of the 2025 crack-seal bids for staff review; appropriation of $1,000,000 for Bridge 253; appropriation of $1,000,000 from MVH restricted funds for Bridge 193; second amendment extending North River Consulting through Sept. 30, 2025; appropriation of $300,000 to the county self-insurance fund; approval of work order No. 14 with Mosier Consulting (NTE $87,500); approval of the County Road 50 tower license agreement with 4 Way Computer Products Inc. (5 years, exchange for internet service); appropriation of $302,199 for Mosier Consulting CIO services; approval of NSI quote (net $0); approval of a noise-ordinance waiver for Michiana Automania through 11:30 p.m.; and adjournment.
The board generally carried votes unanimously; several items were approved with direction for staff to return with confirmed bid amounts or recommendations. The commissioners asked only a few clarifying questions on construction timing and the nature of the license exchange. Staff will report back with formal recommendations on the crack-seal bids and proceed with right-of-way acquisition and solicitation steps for the bridge projects.
