Tippecanoe County Council on Nov. 12 approved a $1 million loan from the county's rainy-day fund to the town of Clarks Hill to finance design, permitting and bidding for upgrades to the town's wastewater treatment plant.

"We're before you today requesting an additional appropriation of a million dollars from rainy day fund to, serve as a loan to the town of Clarks Hill," a county commissioner said during the meeting, describing a three-payment repayment schedule expected after the town secures long-term financing. County legal counsel added that the loan documents mirror prior agreements and include a one-year backstop that would allow the county to demand repayment if state or federal financing does not materialize.

The council also approved a series of additional appropriations and routine fund transfers. Highlights of motions approved by voice vote include:

- A $1,000,000 appropriation from the rainy-day fund as a loan to the town of Clarks Hill to complete wastewater plant design, permitting and bidding; repayment is structured as three installments in 2026 once long-term financing closes.

- A $135,000 general-fund appropriation for Superior Court 3 (Judge Graham) to cover institutional care and counsel costs; the council discussed monthly institutional-care expenses averaging just under $37,000.

- Appropriations for the highway department: $50,000 from the Local Road and Street Fund to reprocess millings for paving projects, and $200,000 from the Motor Vehicle Highway restricted fund to cover additional spring projects and supply needs.

- Two sheriff-related appropriations of $30,000 each: one to the inmate medical fund to cover rising prescription and medical bills, and one to the inmate medical co-pay fund, using commissary-generated funds to help pay bills.

- An opioid-abuse program appropriation (amount presented in the packet) using remaining grant funds to support a position and incidentals through late 2025 into 2026.

Most motions were moved by Councilman Murray and seconded by other council members; all measures were adopted by voice vote with no recorded opposition during the meeting. The council also approved the consent agenda and a requested minutes amendment to correct a reference to October in the financial-report section.

Votes and next steps: The Clarks Hill loan requires signature of the town board's president on the loan documents and the county expects the town to close on long-term financing after bidding; county counsel said bids are expected to be in hand in mid- to late 2026 and repayment will follow closing.