Commissioners defer several contract awards pending NDOT funding; public raises turbine fire-suppression safety concerns

Blackford County commissioners reviewed multiple infrastructure and planning items on Feb. 17, taking bids under advisement for a Community Crossing grant project, deferring an EDF solar demonstration agreement for additional review, approving a fiber-rights request for Bero Networks and hearing public concerns about turbine safety and the local ordinance process.

Bids and NDOT funding: Highway staff (Speaker S4) reported the county’s Community Crossing grant application was not awarded but said the Indiana Department of Transportation asked the county to solicit bids so the project could be funded if state money becomes available. The chair (S1) read four contractor bid figures into the record: $1,049,773.66, $858,717.30, $1,238,702.17 and $1,082,226. Commissioners agreed to take the bids under advisement and return for award if NDOT releases funding.

Solar demonstration and road-use agreements: A staff member (S3) presented a scope-of-work/service letter for an EDF solar demonstration project and asked to defer detailed consideration to a subsequent meeting so commissioners could review materials and competing company proposals. S3 also discussed proposed amendments to road-use agreements that would raise fines for off-route activity, include multiple project-specific agreements, and standardize construction hours to 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Fiber installation and culvert concerns: Highway staff recommended allowing Bero Networks to install fiber optic cable along State Road 3 and described local maintenance issues—mud on 200 East that was cleaned and a culvert (44-inch, 40-foot) temporarily shored with steel plates because heavy turbine-component deliveries have stressed the structure. Staff said contractors should be responsible for replacement costs if the pipe is damaged.

Public comment on turbines and ordinance timing: During public comment, Deb Greider urged the board to adopt turbine fire-suppression safety measures and shared a concern that some companies say it is unsafe for workers to enter turbines if suppression systems might discharge. Greider said a vendor’s guidance was that workers can switch suppression systems off before entry and called that “a safety measure that needs to be implemented.” She also said the board president suggested delaying action until House Bill 1333 was decided; Greider said that bill was killed and should not delay the local ordinance process. "I don't know if you're aware, but that's that's what's happening to the ordinance... you just simply flip the switch off before you enter the turbine," she said.

Other items: Commissioners discussed organizing county ordinances for easier access, updating a cell-phone stipend policy (past amounts discussed were $50–$75 per month), and whether highway and sheriff staff should be compensated when the courthouse closes for weather or emergency conditions.

What’s next: Staff will send the EDF and related agreements to county attorneys for review and return the items to the board for action. The Community Crossing bids will be held pending possible NDOT funding; the board authorized moving forward with permitting for Bero Networks' fiber work.