Commissioners approve consultant to bring county into Title VI/ADA compliance, authorize council funding request

La Porte County commissioners voted on April 15 to move forward with a consultant to address multiple Title VI and ADA deficiencies that county staff said could imperil eligibility for federal grants.

Mitch Bishop, the county planner, told the board that recent reviews show the county is deficient in "10, 11 different categories" of Title VI and ADA compliance and that the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is increasing oversight. "If we're not in compliance, we can't apply for federal funds," Bishop said, urging a prompt consultant selection so the county can meet monitoring and training requirements tied to federal grants.

Bishop presented three proposals and recommended the firm that provided clear, detailed deliverables even though pricing between proposals was similar. Commissioner (speaker 6) moved to approve the selected firm (the lowest responsive bidder as recorded) and to authorize staff to request additional appropriations from the county council so the work can proceed; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Bishop said the consultant would monitor contractors and assist with countywide compliance tasks, including twice-yearly employee education and periodic ADA updates.

Why it matters

County officials said compliance is countywide — affecting parks, courts and highway projects — and is a prerequisite for many federal grant programs. The consultant selection and council funding request are intended to ensure continued access to those funds.

What to expect next

Staff will return with contract details and funding requests to the county council; commissioners authorized the approach and expect the vendor to begin work once council appropriations are secured.