Elkhart County commissioners on Nov. 24 approved several procurement and contract actions covering demolition, consulting contracts and bridge engineering work.

Kevin Williams, the county building commissioner, recommended awarding the demolition contract for 51606 Denny Street to Jerry Reed Excavating for $12,000; the board approved the recommendation by voice vote.

Steve Olson, county attorney, described a standard independent-contractor agreement with American StructurePoint, Inc., noting it incorporates contractual language adopted by county ordinance 2025-43 and that further task orders are expected under the agreement. The board approved the agreement.

Kyle Wagner of the Highway Department presented task orders for bridge work: a task order with United Consulting Engineers for an engineering assessment of Bridge 407 (Cottage Avenue over Rock Run Creek, Goshen) and a task order with Kimberly Horn and Associates for preliminary engineering design on partial rehabilitation of Bridge 362 (Division Street between Waterfall Drive and Goshen Avenue, city of Elkhart). Both motions carried unanimously.

Steve Olson also presented a resolution related to a notice of violation and stop-work order under Elkhart County Code chapter 1-54 for a property on County Road 22 in Middlebury; he said parties had supplied fine and settlement payment and the board approved the agreed order.

What it means: These are routine county procurement and enforcement actions that move projects and enforcement to the next steps: demolition will proceed under a contractor award; engineering assessments and design work will proceed under task orders; the code-violation agreed order resolves a specific enforcement matter identified by county counsel.

Next steps: Task-order work will advance design and assessment; the contractor will proceed with the demolition project; staff will follow up per standard procurement and enforcement reporting processes.