Elkhart County commissioners elect 2025 officers, consent to Syracuse annexation and approve highway grant application

The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 6 elected Commissioner Brad Rogers as board president and Commissioner Susan Blair as vice president and confirmed a slate of commissioner and department appointments for 2025. The board also accepted three conflict-of-interest disclosures, consented to a Town of Syracuse annexation with a stipulation that the entire area be annexed at once, and approved submission of a Community Crossings matching-grant application and advertising for 2025 highway supply and material bids.

Commissioner Brad Rogers was nominated and approved as president for 2025; Susan Blair was nominated and approved as vice president. Commissioners also named representatives to multiple local and regional boards and commissions, including appointments of Bob Barnes, Susie Wyrick and Rogers to several bodies, and named department heads including Joe Lichtman (Buildings and Grounds director), Dave Snowden (Veterans Service officer), Tim Jackson (County Highway engineer), Kyle Wagner (Transportation manager), Kurt Hunsberger (Human Resources director), Todd Burrows (Weights and Measures director), Jennifer Toby (Emergency Management director), Jeff Taylor (County Administrator), Steve Olson (County Attorney) and John Bowers (Landfill director). The board said it will name a chief information officer at a later date.

Steve Olson, county attorney, presented three conflict-of-interest disclosures the board accepted: for Thomas Stough in connection with Scribe Septic and Rain Flow; for Steven E. Clark in connection with R Yoder Construction; and for David L. Hess in connection with Mowing Services. The board voted to accept those disclosures.

On a consent matter, the board agreed to a resolution consenting to annexation of territory by the Town of Syracuse, Indiana. Olson and other participants clarified that the consent includes a condition that the entirety of the identified area be annexed in a single action, to avoid creating partial enclaves or “donut holes.” The board approved the consent.

Tim Jackson of the County Highway Department told commissioners the county prepared and submitted materials for the 2025-1 Community Crossings matching-grant call for projects and requested board approval to submit a grant application; the board approved. The board also approved advertising for 2025 supply and material bids for the highway department. The notice to bidders covers 11 categories: liquid asphalt, hot mix asphalt concrete, limestone and recycled concrete, washed sand, dust control, anti-icing liquids, maintenance gravel, gasoline and diesel fuel, fiber-optic cable, tracer wire and communications conduit. Commissioners said the annual contracts allow purchases within the approved budget and facilitate advance negotiations.

All recorded motions during the meeting were approved by voice vote and carried unanimously.

Votes at a glance - Election of Brad Rogers as board president — motion approved by voice vote (unanimous). - Election of Susan Blair as vice president — motion approved by voice vote (unanimous). - Confirmation of commissioner and board assignments (multiple appointments) — motion approved by voice vote (unanimous). - Confirmation of department head appointments (listed above) — motion approved by voice vote (unanimous). - Acceptance of conflict-of-interest disclosures for Thomas Stough, Steven E. Clark and David L. Hess — motion approved by voice vote (unanimous). - Resolution consenting to annexation by Town of Syracuse with stipulation that the entire area be annexed at once — motion approved by voice vote (unanimous). - Approval to submit 2025-1 Community Crossings matching grant application — motion approved by voice vote (unanimous). - Approval to advertise for 2025 highway supply and material bids (11 categories) — motion approved by voice vote (unanimous).

Context and next steps The board’s leadership and appointment votes set county representation on local boards and established department leadership for 2025. The Syracuse annexation consent includes a specific stipulation intended to prevent piecemeal annexations. The Community Crossings grant application must be submitted to the state program for consideration; the county will pursue matching funds if the grant is awarded. The highway supply bid advertising will proceed under the county’s procurement process.

Ending: The board completed remaining agenda items and adjourned the meeting.