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Elkhart County commissioners approve routine contracts, road projects and appropriations
Summary
At its June 2 meeting the Elkhart County Board of Commissioners approved a series of routine items including contractor agreements, notices to bidders for bridge and sign projects, multiple additional appropriations for road work and building maintenance, out‑of‑state travel requests and a Baker Tilly task order.
The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners on June 2 approved a series of routine contracts, project bid postings and additional appropriations covering highways, buildings and technology.
Key votes included: approval to send volunteer chaplains to a training in Little Rock; a noise‑ordinance variance for River Oaks Community Churchfor an outdoor service July 13; ratification of an independent‑contractor agreement template with Commonwealth Engineers Inc.; notices to bidders for Bridge 332 rehabilitation and the 2025 sign replacement program; an LPA consultant agreement with Lochmueller Group for Bridge 233; and multiple additional appropriations to cover paving, bridge construction, right‑of‑way acquisition and building repairs.
Major financial items recorded on the agenda and approved included:
- An additional appropriation of $1,000,000 from the EDIT fund for Bridge 233 construction and inspection (federal/local match described by staff as an 80/20 match; construction estimate cited in the meeting materials).
- Additional appropriations totaling $1,500,000 from the motor vehicle highway fund and $1,500,000 from the road maintenance and construction fund for paving, chip‑and‑seal work and associated costs to cover shortfalls for 2025 road maintenance.
- A $700,000 appropriation from the rainy day fund for paving work to cover remaining shortfalls after bids were evaluated.
- Acceptance of Community Crossings state match funding and an appropriation of $1,500,050 for paving under that program.
- An additional $1,000,000 from the EDIT fund for right‑of‑way acquisition on County Road 6 between John Weaver Parkway and Ash Road, described as needed for a retention pond.
Building and technology items approved included a $100,000 appropriation to cover extra boxed meals for inmates while the jail kitchen floor was replaced, $290,000 for two rooftop HVAC units and three jail radio repeater replacements, $4,980 for door‑access upgrades at a fiber hut, and $41,115.66 for inmate tracking software and related support. The board also approved a not‑to‑exceed $20,000 task order with Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP for support services in establishing new standard operating procedures under an existing contractor agreement.
All motions on the agenda were approved unanimously among commissioners present; Commissioner Barnes was noted as absent at the start of the meeting. Most items were presented by department staff: Sheriffoffice and volunteers on travel requests; Scott Wagner for highway projects; Joe Lightman for buildings and grounds; Steve Olson, county attorney, introduced contractor and task‑order items; and Eric Fazette was noted in the IT travel item.
Votes at a glance (selected agenda items):
- Approve May 27 meeting minutes: carries unanimously. - Approve out‑of‑state travel for volunteer chaplains to ICPC training (Little Rock): carries unanimously. - Approve noise ordinance variance for River Oaks Community Church for July 13 outdoor service: carries unanimously. - Approve independent contractor agreement with Commonwealth Engineers Inc. (base agreement; task orders to follow): carries unanimously. - Post notice to bidders for Bridge 332 rehab (superstructure/deck replacement): carries unanimously. - Post notice to bidders for 2025 sign replacement (approx. 3,800 signs and posts): carries unanimously. - Approve LPA consultant agreement with Lochmueller Group for Bridge 233 (federally funded local public agency project): carries unanimously. - Additional appropriation requests for multiple paving and road maintenance funds, EDIT fund bridge construction and right‑of‑way acquisition, and Community Crossings state match: all carry unanimously as presented. - Approve Building & Grounds appropriations for inmate boxed meals and rooftop units/jail repeaters, IT appropriations and Baker Tilly task order: all carry unanimously.
Several items included short staff explanations of scope and funding sources (for example, federal match percentages for LPA projects and that some construction inspection costs will be partially reimbursed with federal funds). No contested votes or amendments were recorded on the agenda items.
