Vermillion County’s fiscal body on Nov. 20 approved a $215,000 additional appropriation from the county’s improvement fund and adopted an ordinance authorizing the county commissioners to buy property at 701 South Division Street in Cayuga to serve as an ambulance station, the council president announced.

The council president read Ordinance 2025-22, invoking Indiana Code 36-2-2-20 to authorize the acquisition. A county representative who addressed the council said the property appraisal came in at $182,000 and commissioners negotiated a purchase authority not to exceed $190,000. The appropriation, $215,000, covers the purchase price, closing costs, appraisals and inspection work and leaves roughly $18,000–$20,000 for immediate needs, the council president said.

Supporters said the location would improve local ambulance response and that renovating the existing building would be faster than building a new station immediately. A county commissioner (Speaker 5) told the council that preliminary renovation work to ready the building for staff was estimated at about $31,700–$32,000 and that adding a larger heater might raise that by roughly $1,000–$2,000. “The appraisal came in a $182,000,” the commissioner said. He also said the commissioners were unanimous in recommending the acquisition.

One council member disagreed with the purchase, calling it a poor use of funds and saying earlier bids suggested building new might be a better long-term option. “This makes no sense,” the member said, arguing the county was buying an older building rather than funding a new station. The objection did not prevent the motions from passing: Mister Weir moved to approve the additional appropriation and Mister Costello seconded; the council voted unanimously to approve the $215,000 appropriation. The council then moved to allow adoption of the ordinance on first reading and voted to adopt Ordinance 2025-22, authorizing the commissioners to negotiate a purchase up to $190,000.

Council members asked to see the contractor’s proposal for the renovation and were told the county representative would email the $31,700 proposal to council staff and arrange walkthroughs with a local contractor. The representative also said he had contacted a local attorney, Henry Antennetti, to handle closing and estimated that, once appraisal and negotiation issues were resolved, the county could close in about a week.

The council identified several inspection follow-ups that might require immediate attention — such as roof work, electrical corrections and a likely fire-rated door between living quarters and other areas — and agreed staff and the contractor would prioritize items from the inspection report. The special meeting adjourned after the council completed the votes and set next steps.

Votes at a glance: Additional appropriation — $215,000 from the improvement fund; motion by Mister Weir, second by Mister Costello; outcome: approved by unanimous vote. Ordinance 2025-22 — authorizes purchase of 701 South Division Street, Cayuga, Indiana (sellers listed as Zeke Norman and Renee Norman) not to exceed $190,000; motion to adopt made and seconded; outcome: adopted by unanimous vote.

Next steps: county staff will solicit or process a second appraisal if needed, provide the contractor proposal to council members, coordinate any immediate inspection repairs, and proceed toward closing with local counsel once appraisal and negotiations are resolved.