Vanderburgh County approves road, public-safety and demolition contracts; adopts flood-hazard ordinance

Vanderburgh County commissioners on Aug. 12 approved a series of contracts and measures including a change order on Klytes Road, an easement with CenterPoint Energy for part of Oak Hill Road, a $20,000 emergency-preparedness grant to the health department, replacement of an old courthouse fire panel, and a contract to demolish a court-ordered unsafe structure at 5504 Big Cynthia Road. The board also adopted a flood hazard protection ordinance on second and final reading and hired Jeff Bird as highway garage superintendent.

The board voted unanimously on each item. County Engineer John told the commissioners excavation for the Klytes Road rehabilitation uncovered "unsuitable soils that had to be undercut, 2 feet or more depending on where they were on the approaches," and recommended a change order increasing the contract by $88,654.24 to replace the material with rock to stabilize the road base. The motion to approve carried 3-0.

On Oak Hill Road, staff said attorneys negotiated terms after CenterPoint preferred granting an easement rather than selling fee title. Staff said an offer amount approved earlier — "around $13,000" — was carried forward and the easement was approved. The board approved a $20,000 agreement (Indiana Department of Health contract no. 94423) to support emergency-preparedness activities, and unanimously approved a special-purchase request to have Johnson Controls replace an outdated fire panel at the old courthouse; staff said Johnson Controls is the only vendor compatible with the existing system.

The board closed the business meeting by adopting Resolution CODotR-07-25-007, updating county code to add a flood hazard protection ordinance as chapter 18.04. The second and final reading passed with no members of the public speaking on the item. Commissioners also approved routine consent items and adjourned.

Votes at a glance - Change order: Klytes Road rehabilitation (VC25-01-01) — increase $88,654.24 to remove unsuitable soils and replace with rock; motion approved 3-0. - Oak Hill Road: CenterPoint Energy easement (between Lynch and Saint George) — motion approved 3-0; staff said a previously approved offer around $13,000 was part of the arrangement. - Indiana Department of Health contract no. 94423 — $20,000 for emergency preparedness; motion approved 3-0. - Johnson Controls special purchase — replacement of old courthouse fire panel (vendor compatibility cited); motion approved 3-0. - Residential demolition and site cleanup contract — 5504 Big Cynthia Road (see separate coverage of public comment); motion approved 3-0. - Resolution CODotR-07-25-007 — adoption of flood hazard protection ordinance as chapter 18.04 (second and final reading); motion approved 3-0. - Hiring: Jeff Bird as highway garage superintendent — motion approved 3-0.

The commissioners did not identify any dissenting votes. Several items were accompanied by staff presentations explaining technical or legal prerequisites; the demolition contract followed a Superior Court order discussed during public comment.