LaPorte County commissioners approve routine claims, several contracts and an ordinance creating a GIS advisory board

The LaPorte County Board of Commissioners at its Oct. 1 meeting approved routine fiscal items, a set of contracts and settlements, and passed an ordinance to create a county GIS advisory board.

The board approved payroll totaling $1,514,384.89 and operating expense claims of $2,289,765.07 by voice vote. Commissioners also approved a vendor contract template for facilities work designed to ensure certificates of insurance and debarment certifications are on file and uploaded to Gateway.

Other approvals included: a motion to install two signs at Sharp and Webster cemeteries for the Pioneer Cemetery Commission; an annual consulting contract with MA Dilts for the sheriff’s pension plan; a one‑year outside work contract for the surveyor; and a two‑year license agreement to provide veteran readjustment counseling from local office space.

The board accepted legal counsel’s recommendation to settle a 2024 dispute involving email records with Fagan (terms described as confidential) and voted to approve a tentative mediation settlement in Gates v. LaPorte County sheriff for $38,125. The Gates settlement was reported as recommended by outside counsel and approved by the board.

On ordinances, the commissioners unanimously suspended the rules, read Ordinance 2025‑4 by title twice and approved it. Ordinance 2025‑4 establishes an advisory board for the county GIS department and calls for seven members to advise on GIS services and funding allocations. The board also read Ordinance 2025‑5 by title for the first reading. Ordinance 2025‑5 would rename the commissary fund for community corrections as the community corrections marketplace fund; the item will return for a second reading at the next meeting.

Responding to a request from the EMA director and the LaPorte County Fire Chiefs Association, commissioners approved a temporary 14‑day burn ban for Cass, Clinton, Noble, New Durham, Hanna, Prairie and Dewey townships covering the southern half of the county; the ban will be reevaluated at the next meeting. The board also approved illuminating the courthouse in purple during October for domestic violence awareness.

All motions reported in the meeting record carried by voice vote with "aye" recorded for each item; no opposing votes were recorded in the transcript.

Votes and formal actions recorded at the meeting are listed below with the motion text as presented in the transcript where available.