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Votes at a glance: St. Joseph County commissioners approve bids, contracts, grants and a property purchase; stop‑loss reinsurance reduces premiums
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Summary
At its March 10 meeting the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved two resurfacing bids sent to engineering for review, multiple health and community grant applications, a property purchase in Mishawaka, interlocal and utility agreements, and a stop‑loss insurance application that staff said will save roughly $500,000 in premiums for 2026.
St. Joseph County commissioners approved a slate of routine and substantive items at their March 10 meeting, including procurement actions, contract amendments, grant applications and a real‑estate purchase intended to facilitate future road work.
Key outcomes
• Resurfacing bids: Commissioners heard two bids for the 2026 mainline resurfacing package — Milestone Contractors at $2,330,000 and Rees Riley Construction Company at $2,194,900 — and voted to turn both bids over to county engineering for review and award. Recorded aye votes: Commissioner Morton, Commissioner Hazen, Commissioner Maxmeier.
• Accounts payable docket: Approved by voice vote (Commissioner Morton, Commissioner Hazen, Commissioner Baxter recorded as aye).
• Paragon Clinic agreements: The board approved a six‑month lease extension with Beacon Health System for the Paragon Clinic and approved an annual wellness screening quote that continues biometric screenings and consultations for employees; Ryan Carlson summarized the program for commissioners.
• Claims administration fiduciary amendment: Commissioners approved a compliance amendment clarifying the county is the fiduciary/plan sponsor under ERISA for the county health plan (transcript uses names Oxient/OxyContin in discussion of the administrator).
• Stop‑loss insurance application: Staff said the county secured a new stop‑loss contract with HCC Life for 2026, producing about 25% in premium savings, roughly "about a half million" dollars in projected savings; the board approved the application to secure the policy.
• Land bank interlocal: The board approved an interlocal agreement with MAYCOG and the city of South Bend to establish a county land bank (see separate story).
• Property purchase (RES R‑4‑C‑2026): The board authorized purchase of 14288 East Douglas Road in Mishawaka for $251,276.52 to allow future widening of Douglas Road and railroad crossing improvements.
• INDOT interlocal and International Motors items: Commissioners reapproved a minor amendment to an interlocal cooperative agreement with the Indiana Department of Transportation for an interchange at State Road 2 (date change and a provision addition) and approved an MOU and enlarged easement enabling water and sewer improvements to serve the International Motors site and Bendix Woods County Park.
• JJC nursing services: An updated agreement with Beacon Health Ventures to provide nursing services to children housed at the juvenile justice center was approved; the contract continues services paid from the contractual services fund.
• Grants and programs: The board approved the health department’s request to apply for an AMA Community Health Impact Lab grant, an Automotive Safety Program car‑seat station grant, a Safe Routes to School bike safety rodeo grant (aiming to impact about 200 children), and the WorkOne Northern Indiana work experience agreement for youth (ages 16–24; positions last 8–10 weeks; $20/hour); all passed by voice vote.
• Mailings: The county assessor’s office received approval to contract with Midwest Presort to mail nearly 90,000 Form 11 notices as required by Indiana Code 6‑1.1‑4‑22; the contract includes a one‑page informational insert and reflects postage increases of about 6–7%.
Most motions passed by unanimous voice vote of commissioners present. Where staff provided figures, the meeting record reflected the numbers listed above; no contested roll‑call votes were recorded in the transcript.
