Daviess County commissioners approve bridge bid, farm leases and study of fire district funding

Daviess County commissioners met Jan. 13 and approved a series of routine actions to keep county business moving, including accepting a low bridge bid, approving farm leases, tentatively accepting a low bid tied to a $1 million Community Crossings award, and authorizing a study of fire-district funding options.

The board unanimously accepted the low bid from CLR for a bridge project (primary bid reported at $217,585 with alternates of $3,500 and $10,000). Highway staff presented the numbers and recommended accepting the low bid so the project can move forward; the motion to accept CLR’s bid passed 3-0.

Highway staff also opened two farm lease bids for roughly 100 acres of county land. The board discussed lease length — the county had advertised a three-year term but noted that a five-year term (used by the airport) can be more attractive to bidders. Commissioners accepted the current three-year leases and moved to review longer-term alignment when leases come up for rebid.

On the Community Crossings Matching Grant (CCMG), county staff told the board the county was awarded the full $1,000,000 grant. “We were awarded the full amount, 1000000 dollars,” said highway staff during the presentation. Two closed bids were presented (Calcutta and Milestone); staff recommended tentatively accepting the low bid pending standard review and paperwork. Commissioners voted to tentatively accept the low bid so contracting and INDOT submittals can proceed; staff emphasized contracts and INDOT documentation must be in place by March 1 to avoid forfeiting the funding.

The board approved several other agreements and grants: a Kiwanis building agreement and a four-year maintenance contract for a micro-vote system (both approved unanimously), and a marine grant to support patrols. The board also approved continued county participation in the “Baby in Me” program, which is grant-funded and has served small cohorts; commissioners noted enrollment numbers are modest but expressed support for the program’s potential to save lives.

County leaders authorized an engagement agreement to retain attorney Jeff Bellamy and consultant Baker Tilly to explore funding options for fire districts. County staff described the work as exploratory and estimated combined costs in the ballpark of $25,000; staff said decisions on funding sources (for example, the rainy day fund) would be the board’s to make. The motion to retain counsel and consultants for the study passed 3-0.

During the Board of Finance portion of the meeting, treasury staff reported on 2025 investments and earnings; the treasurer reported roughly $2 million in interest income for the year and said the county’s investment policy remains unchanged. The board accepted the investment report.

The commissioners completed routine annual business: reappointments of county officials, acceptance of the annual wage report, and election of officers for the drainage board and Board of Finance. Mike Keith was elected commission president and T.C. Cook was elected vice president; all routine motions passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance: the meeting’s recorded motions (minutes, vouchers, bids, agreements, grants, program approvals, reappointments, wage and investment reports, and payroll/claims) were each approved by unanimous voice vote (3-0) as noted in the minutes.

Next steps: contracting staff will proceed with bid finalization and INDOT paperwork for the CCMG award with a target contract/INOT submission by March 1; staff will bring any required funding or budget adjustments back to the board for formal action.