Vigo County commissioners on the morning meeting approved routine financial dockets, several contracts and a road vacation to allow a park trail connection, and voted to support sending a court-requested opioid-response funding resolution to the city council.

Mister Hutchings presented a claim docket dated through Dec. 19, 2025, totaling $63,518,769.04, and a payroll docket for Dec. 12–19, 2025, totaling $1,647,192.86; both were approved by voice vote. Hutchings also asked commissioners to approve minutes from oversight and commissioners' meetings on Dec. 12 and Dec. 16, 2025, which the board approved.

The board approved an agreement with Duke Energy to add lighting tied to Commissioner Morris’s Spring Hill Road improvement project; staff said the lights will cost about $101.28 per month. Adam Grossman, superintendent at Vigo County Parks, asked the commissioners to vacate Chestnut Road in Dresser so the county can build a pedestrian connection between the butterfly garden and the existing Wabashiki Trail. Grossman said two private landowners along that road will still have access via alternate roads and that construction is expected in the spring. "The best place to take that through would be Chestnut and Dresser," Grossman said.

County building maintenance director Ricky Hamon described a $10,431.35 contract with Crossroads Electric to install a subpanel that will connect the new 9-1-1 backup center in the annex building to the backup generator so "everything will be backed up," he said. Commissioners approved the Crossroads Electric contract by voice vote.

During public comment, Sarah Mullick of the circuit court and Dan Kelly of the superior court reported a recent meeting with Mayor Sackman about opioid funds and asked for county support. Mullick and Kelly said the courts are seeking roughly $360,000 for next year and noted the mayor committed $170,000 for 2027. The commissioners moved to support referring the funding request to the city council and approved that support by voice vote.

The board also discussed outstanding contracts and demo projects and reminded attendees that next Tuesday is the last commissioners meeting of the year.

Votes at a glance: approve claim docket ($63,518,769.04) — approved by voice vote; approve payroll docket ($1,647,192.86) — approved by voice vote; Duke Energy lighting agreement (~$101.28/month) — approved by voice vote; Chestnut Road vacation/trail connection — approved by voice vote; Crossroads Electric contract for 9-1-1 backup ($10,431.35) — approved by voice vote; support referral of opioid funding request to city council (courts seek ~ $360,000; mayor committed $170,000 for 2027) — approved by voice vote.

The meeting recessed for the holidays; commissioners said the next meeting will be next Tuesday with a fuller agenda.