Elkhart County Council approves appointments, $10.11 million in appropriations and interlocal agreement

The Elkhart County Council on Aug. 21 approved a package of appointments, budget adjustments and an interlocal agreement, voting unanimously on each item.

Votes at a glance (key items): - Kevin Bullard reappointed to the Alcohol Beverage Board, one-year term (passes 7-0). - Catherine Schaeffers reappointed to the Bristol Library Board, four-year term (passes 7-0). - Darlene Byland reappointed to the Walker Russo Library Board, four-year term (passes 7-0). - Additional appropriations totaling $10,114,199 across multiple funds and grants (each item passed 7-0). Major items included: - $7,200,000 from the County Road 6 & 17 improvement TIF fund for a County Road 17 Super 2 extension between County Road 38 and County Road 42. - $1,000,000 from the EDIT fund for Bridge 2253 (County Road 1 south of County Road 36); estimated closure for construction about three months (superstructure replacement). - $1,000,000 from the Motor Vehicle Highway restricted fund for Bridge 193 (County Road 43 north of County Road 42); estimated closure about three months (superstructure replacement). - $302,199 from the general fund for Information Technology (reclassifying salary dollars to contract to continue staffing through year-end). - $72,000 from the general fund to complete online permitting software deployment for Planning and Development. - $300,000 from the self-insurance property and liability fund to cover deductibles and premiums through year-end. - Grants and smaller appropriations: $80,000 for the judiciary school lunch program (reimbursement grant), $100,000 HPAI/avian influenza grant to Health (reimbursable), $30,000 court interpreter grant (initial appropriation), and $30,000 for a statewide GIS data grant. - Transfers: council approved various transfers including $100,000 from the Q Voting System fund and other grant transfers; approvals passed unanimously. - Interlocal agreement: the council approved an interlocal agreement with the city of Elkhart to allow a private developer to construct public utilities and roads on Atlas Drive (TIF-funded reimbursement up to 75% of project costs, not to exceed $2.4 million; county's role limited to funding/reimbursement; passed 7-0).

Details and context: Planning and Development explained the $72,000 appropriation was for the county's online permitting software that had been started years earlier and recently completed. Information Technology staff and the county administrator described the $302,199 request as a reclassification from salary to contract to maintain services through the end of the year.

Highway Department staff said the two bridges identified for superstructure replacement were found structurally deficient during inspections last fall; design work is nearly complete and bids are expected this winter with construction next year. Tim Jackson estimated each bridge would be out of service for about three months during superstructure replacement.

The interlocal agreement presenter said the project lies in an area annexed by the city of Elkhart and is TIF-funded. The private developer will construct utilities and roads to the city's specifications, and the city will accept and maintain the public infrastructure; reimbursement to the developer is subject to completion and city acceptance.

All roll-call vote tallies announced during the meeting were unanimous, recorded as 7'to'0 on each listed item.