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Huntington County commissioners approve contracts, permits and transfer of two TIF properties; honor retiring economic director
Summary
At their Sept. 22 meeting the Huntington County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved on-call and task-order contracts tied to roadwork grants, multiple utility permits, an OCRA grant extension, surplus property for auction and a conditional transfer of two county-owned TIF properties to the Redevelopment Commission; they also recognized outgoing HCUED director Mark Wickersham.
The Huntington County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 22, 2025 unanimously approved a series of routine and project-specific actions, including two contract authorizations linked to upcoming roadwork, permit approvals for utility work, an OCRA grant extension and a conditional deed transfer to the county Redevelopment Commission. The board also recognized Mark Wickersham, executive director of Huntington County United Economic Development (HCUED), for 18 years of service; Wickersham retires Sept. 30, 2025.
Why it matters: The approved task order and consulting agreement support work under the 2026 Community Crossings Matching Grant and other road and infrastructure projects; transferring county-owned properties within the TIF district to the Redevelopment Commission shifts responsibility and potential redevelopment authority for those parcels, subject to the RDC accepting the deeds.
Votes at a glance - Minutes (Sept. 8, 2025): approved; mover Tom Wall, seconder Terry Stoffel; vote 3-0 (approved). - Claims docket (Sept. 24, 2025): approved; mover Terry Stoffel, seconder Tom Wall; vote 3-0 (approved). - Payroll docket (Sept. 19, 2025): approved; mover Terry Stoffel, seconder Tom Wall; vote 3-0 (approved). - On-call Consulting Services Agreement with VS Engineering: approved; mover Tom Wall, seconder Terry Stoffel; vote 3-0 (approved). - Task Order No. 1 with Lochmueller Group (2026 Community Crossings Matching Grant): approved; mover Tom Wall, seconder Terry Stoffel; vote 3-0 (approved). - Credit card limit increase for the Public Health Administrator (Brian Trueblood), from $2,000 to $2,500: approved; mover Tom Wall, seconder Terry Stoffel; vote 3-0 (approved). - Permits for Frontier Communication (two locations: 10419 N Roanoke Rd; CR 850 N near 445 Rockwell Ave): both approved; mover Terry Stoffel, seconder Tom Wall; vote 3-0 (approved). - Transfer of two county-owned properties on 900 North within the TIF district to the Redevelopment Commission: motion approved contingent on the Redevelopment Commission agreeing to assume responsibility for the properties; mover Tom Wall, seconder Terry Stoffel; vote 3-0 (approved, contingent). - Payment of Full Service Mechanical invoice ($12,753.35) from Cumulative Courthouse funds: approved; mover Tom Wall, seconder Terry Stoffel; vote 3-0 (approved). - Surplus inventory (five straight plows and one V-blade plow) declared for auction: approved; mover Tom Wall, seconder Terry Stoffel; vote 3-0 (approved). - OCRA Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Grant extension request: approved; mover Tom Wall, seconder Terry Stoffel; vote 3-0 (approved). - Recess set until Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 at 8:30 a.m.: approved; mover Terry Stoffel, seconder Tom Wall; vote 3-0 (approved).
What the commissioners authorized The board signed an On-Call Consulting Services Agreement with VS Engineering to provide engineering support as needed and approved Task Order No. 1 under a General Services Agreement with the Lochmueller Group tied to the county’s participation in the 2026 Community Crossings Matching Grant program. Highway Superintendent Bridgett Burkhart reported the county’s recent striping work was satisfactory except at one location (900 N), and she said the contractor will return to correct that road striping at no additional cost to the county.
Utility permits and property actions The board approved two permit applications submitted by Troyer on behalf of Frontier Communication for work at 10419 N Roanoke Road and at CR 850 N near 445 Rockwell Ave. Separately, commissioners approved transferring deed ownership of two county-owned properties on 900 North within the TIF district to the Redevelopment Commission contingent on the RDC signaling willingness to assume responsibility for the parcels.
Finance, surplus and grants Commissioners approved payment of a Full Service Mechanical invoice for $12,753.35 from Cumulative Courthouse funds, declared six highway plows surplus to be sold at auction, and signed an extension request for the OCRA Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Grant.
Reports and next steps Gretchen Lenfestey, the commissioners’ office manager, presented the Clerk of the Circuit Court report and the County Treasurer’s report for the month ending Aug. 31, 2025. The board recessed and set its next meeting for Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 at 8:30 a.m.
Attributions Where motions were recorded, the minutes identify Commissioner Tom Wall as the regular mover and Commissioner Terry Stoffel as seconder for most items; all recorded formal votes were unanimous (3-0). The meeting record identifies Commissioner Rob Miller as calling the meeting to order.
Notes on limitations The board minutes summarize actions taken and identify movers, seconders and vote tallies. They do not include extended debate transcripts on individual items, detailed scope or costing for the Lochmueller Task Order, nor the Redevelopment Commission's response to the deed-transfer contingency (the RDC decision was not recorded at this meeting).
