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LaPorte County commissioners approve payroll, claims and design contract for Bridge 180; bid awards and appointments move forward
Summary
At their Nov. 19 meeting the LaPorte County Board of Commissioners approved payroll and operating claims, awarded a contingent contract for Heiler Building restroom work, appointed a planning-commission proxy and approved a $1.6 million design contract for Bridge 180 by a 2–1 vote. Commissioners also passed a motion to improve public descriptions for claims.
The LaPorte County Board of Commissioners approved routine business and several contracts at its Nov. 19 meeting, including payroll of $1,479,925.76 and operating claims of $2,480,818.43, and moved to require fuller descriptions on claims posted to the county docket.
The board accepted a recommendation to award a contingent contract for first-floor restroom renovations in the Heiler Building to Larson Danielson after staff presented five bids and commended Larson Danielson’s detailed proposal. Bids reported were Taza Construction ($79,000), Gibson Lewis ($135,900), New Tech ($153,900), Larson Danielson ($139,995) and Blue Sky ($108,440.77). The award was approved contingent on negotiating contract terms to the county attorney’s satisfaction.
Mitch Bishop, presenting on Bridge 180, said the county received roughly $1,600,000 in federal aid to replace the bridge, located about two miles south of the community of Hannah, and recommended contracting USI for engineering design services. Commissioners discussed the procurement and USI’s prior work; Commissioner Joe Haney said he could not support the award because of recent performance issues with the parent company and stated, in part, that the situation felt like '3 strikes and you’re out.' The board approved the design contract by voice vote 2–1.
Other approved items included a payout of 63 sick days for a retiring EMS employee and the appointment of James Irwin as a proxy on the planning commission. Commissioners also accepted the 2026 meeting calendar and agreed to forgo the Dec. 3 meeting while commissioners attend the ICC convention in Indianapolis, provided claims and payroll cycles are handled in advance.
On administrative transparency, staff and a resident speaker urged more complete descriptions in the claims report; the board adopted a motion to fill in the description field more consistently, with presenters noting current compliance was about 10 percent.
The meeting concluded after all motions were voted and approval was given for the various routine and contract items. The commissioners adjourned at the close of the agenda.
