Elkhart County commissioners approve paving and bridge contracts, adopt vote-center pay changes and ratify multiple grants
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Summary
At the March 30 meeting the Elkhart County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the 2026-1 paving award and multiple bridge and consultant task orders, adopted a new ordinance raising per-diem pay for vote-center board members, and ratified several justice-reinvestment and other grant applications.
Elkhart County commissioners on March 30 unanimously approved a slate of highway contracts, independent-contractor agreements and grant applications and adopted an ordinance updating pay for vote-center board members.
The board awarded the 2026-1 CCMG paving contract to Niblock Excavating Incorporated after staff reported bids were opened March 16 and the recommended firm was the low bidder. Tim Jackson of the county highway department presented the recommendation and confirmed the bid review. The board also approved awarding the Bridge 253 rehabilitation project to Milestone Contractors LP and approved a task order with SJCA for preliminary engineering and a planned full replacement of timber Bridge 336.
Steve Olson, county attorney, presented multiple procurement and contract items the board approved unanimously: a five-year cloud migration task order with Information Records Associates with a total stated cost of $168,527 (listed in the record as $151,650 plus a separate $16,008.77 line); an independent-contractor agreement and a 60-month software license task order with WayPay Group LLC for landfill weighing and waste management (task order not to exceed $59,900); a Truveris contract and a one-year analysis task order for prescription-drug cost analysis (not to exceed $45,000); and a Maximus task order to develop a central service cost-allocation plan (not to exceed $34,800).
Patty Pickens, county clerk, presented a commissioners' ordinance to update per-diem rates and allowances for precinct election officers (referred to as vote center board members). The ordinance, which will be codified in county code section 34.16, sets daily per-diem and early-voting rates, increases the food allowance, and authorizes training pay; the board approved the ordinance unanimously.
In grant actions, Helen Calvin of Community Corrections asked the board to ratify the county's 2027 justice-reinvestment application to the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) requesting $1,388,877.60 and sought approval to apply for a $75,000 Lilly Endowment grant to offset anticipated state cuts. Nathan Tipton, director of court services, presented additional court-related grants, including a $128,000 grant request for two evidence-based probation officers and grants to support drug court and pretrial services; the board approved those items.
Votes at a glance - Award 2026-1 CCMG paving program to Niblock Excavating Incorporated — approved unanimously. - Award Bridge 253 rehab to Milestone Contractors LP — approved unanimously. - Task order with SJCA for Bridge 336 preliminary engineering and replacement — approved unanimously. - Task order with Information Records Associates (cloud migration), total reported $168,527 — approved unanimously. - Independent-contractor agreement and task order with WayPay Group (landfill scales), task order NTE $59,900 — approved unanimously. - Agreement and task order with Truveris (prescription drug analysis), task order NTE $45,000 — approved unanimously. - Maximus task order (central service cost allocation), NTE $34,800 — approved unanimously. - Amended and restated temporary easement with NIPSCO (advances April 1 start) — approved unanimously. - Ordinance amending per diems and allowances for vote center board members (to be codified at county code §34.16) — adopted unanimously. - Adoption of 2026 street standards ordinance — adopted unanimously. - Ratify 2027 IDOC justice-reinvestment grant request ($1,388,877.60) and approval to apply for a $75,000 Lilly Endowment grant — approved unanimously. - Multiple court grants for probation, drug court and pretrial services — approved unanimously (amounts as stated in meeting record).
Why it matters: The approvals advance the county’s capital and maintenance work on roads and bridges, move several information-technology and vendor contracts into execution, and update compensation for local election workers ahead of upcoming elections. The large grant requests reflect preparations for expected state funding cuts to justice‑reinvestment funds.
The board concluded the meeting without dissent and adjourned; no items were tabled or postponed.
