Board approves 2026 contractor list; employee discloses family ties; B Lane surveying and bond paperwork to be reviewed

The Clinton County Drainage Board approved its 2026 contractor list for maintenance work, including excavating, tree service and herbicide application, after staff presented submitted rates for several firms. Speaker 6, who identified themself as a county employee, disclosed a relationship and shared equipment arrangement involving contractor Hoosier Heartland Dirt Works (owned by Bill Osler) and their own LLC, Gym City Towing and Repair, saying the disclosure was intended to avoid perceived conflicts. Speaker 1 thanked Speaker 6 for the transparency and staff indicated there was no direct decision‑making conflict. The board recorded "Motion carries 3 0" on the contractor approvals.

Staff then presented two surveying proposals from House Surveying (Lebanon) for the B Lane reconstruction in the Willis Lane watershed: a $5,500 lump‑sum proposal to survey and lay out the route and an optional $4,500 staking add‑on to be completed when weather allows. Speaker 3 recommended accepting both proposals to proceed with reconstruction preparation; a motion was made and seconded in support of proceeding. The transcript records the motion and seconds but does not include a numeric vote tally in the same explicit phrasing the board used elsewhere.

Separately, Speaker 3 flagged an atypical submission from contractor Merrill Brothers: instead of the usual cashier's check for the $500 bid deposit, Merrill Brothers provided a performance bond form lacking visible dates. Speaker 3 asked Tom (the county attorney) to review the bond and advise whether it satisfies the county's escrow and deposit requirements. Staff noted the county normally holds $500 bid deposits in the bid deposit and bond holdings account where appropriate.