Commissioners approve highway bids and contracts, buy software and equipment; accept jail medical and hospital agreements

Gibson County commissioners approved several routine and project-related items Tuesday, including multiple highway procurement actions, software and equipment purchases, and county contracts for jail medical services.

Highway Superintendent Mr. Holden reviewed annual bids opened Dec. 1 and recommended awarding the fuel bid to Wabash Valley, which he said was about 10% lower than Heritage. Commissioners approved the recommended awards by voice vote.

Mr. Holden also explained an INDOT LPA construction contract for Bridge 73 on 400 North (west of Wheeling). He said INDOT will invoice the county for the county’s 20% local share up front, and construction invoices will go directly to INDOT; commissioners voted to approve the INDOT LPA contract for Bridge 73. The board also approved an INDOT LPA bridge inspection contract covering the 2026–2029 cycle, which will be reimbursed at 80% as part of the state’s inspection agreement.

Mr. Holden reported the county received a Community Crossings matching grant (described in the record as a "million dollar max" grant) and asked permission to advertise bids for the CCMG project, with bids due Jan. 20 and an anticipated contract deadline in early March. Commissioners authorized advertising for the project. The meeting transcript contains unclear references to statewide award totals; those statewide figures are not specified clearly in the record and are reported here only as described by speakers in the meeting (not independently verified).

The highway department also requested approval to purchase an accounting and asset‑tracking software package (referred to as Charts) to track road and equipment expenses and facilitate FEMA reporting. Mr. Holden said the software costs about $8,000 the first year for setup and about $2,100 annually thereafter; commissioners approved the contract.

A department request to purchase a John Deere utility tractor with front loader and snow pusher for grounds and snow removal was approved. The purchase price stated in the record was $24,604.44 and commissioners voted to authorize the purchase.

Sheriff’s Office business included two contracts presented by the sheriff: a jail physician agreement with Dr. Quentin Emerson and an agreement with Deaconess Gibson General Hospital for rendered services. Commissioners voted to accept both contracts; the sheriff requested signatures to finalize the agreements.

Department reports opened the meeting: the sheriff provided staffing and inmate statistics (16 of 21 corrections positions filled; November average of 118 in lockup and 32 in work release) and thanked detention officers, EMS and local fire departments for their response to a recent serious crash. AJ from the ambulance service reported 443 calls for November and that the service is fully staffed.

Public comment included concerns about changes to polling locations and requests for road maintenance in southeast parts of the county; commissioners said the county clerk’s election office handles polling notifications and Mr. Holden indicated road work would be scheduled after staff return from holiday break.

The meeting concluded after commissioners approved the 2026 holiday schedule and regular meeting dates and times.