Elkhart County commissioners unanimously adopted an ordinance on Dec. 1, 2025, that amends the county's personnel policy and standard procedures manual to align several internal rules with state law and current payroll practice. County Attorney Steve Olson presented the ordinance and outlined the primary changes to the board.

Olson told the board, "We're making changes to policy 1.01306313409, all in connection with this becoming just a manual and no longer having a handbook." He said the revisions clarify that independent contractors are not employees under state and federal law, remove a mailed final-paycheck questionnaire because the county now uses direct deposit for final pay, and make several adjustments related to lunch breaks and approval of time cards. Olson also noted that the manual adds sections 4.05 and 4.13 "to comply with new Indiana law."

The ordinance was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; the board recorded the action as carrying unanimously. County staff did not provide roll-call vote counts in the record; details such as mover and seconder names were not specified in the transcript.

The changes were described to the public as clarifications and administrative updates rather than the creation of new substantive employment rights. The county attorney framed the amendment as an internal reorganization of the document (changing a "handbook" to a "manual") and as needed to reflect current payroll practices and to ensure statutory compliance.

Also on the agenda, the board approved routine items including the Nov. 24 minutes and payroll and regular claims, and ratified a township assistance hearing officer's determination on an appeal. Each of those motions carried unanimously by voice vote; the transcript does not provide individual vote tallies or identify the mover and seconder by name for those routine actions.

The meeting concluded after the board confirmed there were no items under privilege of the floor and moved to adjourn. No public comments or dissenting views on the personnel ordinance were recorded in the provided transcript.