Harrison County commissioners approve routine claims, adopt redevelopment plan and accept bridge grant

HARRISON COUNTY — The Harrison County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 1, 2025 approved routine claims and payroll, adopted a redevelopment-area resolution, accepted a bridge grant award and signed off on a package of highway personnel and procurement items.

Commissioner Nelson Stepro called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. and the board first approved regular claims and payroll as presented. Commissioner Annissa Kellum moved to approve the claims; Commissioner Brad Wiseman seconded and the motions carried, each recorded as 3 ayes, 0 nays.

County attorney Chris Byrd opened a single bid for county reassessment services covering 2027–2030 from Nexus Ltd, a four‑year offer “in an amount not to exceed $647,000.00.” County assessor Rena Stepro told commissioners her office has worked with Nexus for 18 years and said they have been satisfied with the firm’s work. The commissioners took the bid under advisement so the county attorney can review it and said action will be taken at the next meeting.

Christy Powell of RJL Solutions asked the board to adopt an order from the Harrison County Area Plan Commission implementing a declaratory resolution and the economic development plan adopted earlier by the Harrison County Redevelopment Commission. Commissioner Wiseman moved to adopt Resolution 2025-09, which the board approved unanimously; Powell said the resolution is the next procedural step to establish the I‑64 and Highway 135 NW economic development area.

County engineer Kevin Russel presented several highway items. He said the highway department will submit a road-inventory update to the Indiana Department of Transportation, which the commissioners approved. Russel announced the department received confirmation of a Community Crossings grant award of $319,562.77 for Bridge #43 on St. John’s Church Road and said he will present a request for matching appropriations out of the cumulative bridge fund at the board’s next meeting.

Russel also reported annual bids, including Asphalt Contract 2025-02, will be opened at the Dec. 15, 2025 meeting, and the board formally accepted a fog‑sealing quote from RejuvTec so a service order can be encumbered into 2026 (amount not specified in the transcript). He presented a set of personnel items that the board approved: changing titles from garage mechanic and head mechanic to two garage mechanic positions effective Jan. 1, 2026; reinstating a commercial driver’s license requirement for mechanic positions effective July 1, 2027; and multiple reclassifications effective Dec. 7, 2025 for named highway employees.

Roland Lemus of Blue River Services presented a third‑quarter claim under the 5311 public transportation grant totaling $132,666.00; the commissioners approved the claim unanimously.

The board approved a $18,000 agreement with the Harrison County Substance Abuse Coalition to be finalized and signed outside the meeting once the county attorney prepares the contract. Commissioners also ratified a time‑sensitive letter from Harrison County Emergency Management requesting the remaining $5,500 grant balance from the Harrison County Community Foundation to repair school intercoms so the Centegix Crisis Alerting system can operate; the board ratified Commissioner Stepro’s signature on that request.

Commissioner Stepro reported that some Harrison County police officers have expressed interest in forming a union. County attorney Chris Byrd will conduct a vote on Dec. 9, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; the board approved scheduling the vote.

County Auditor Sara Burdick asked the board to allow her office to sign sheriff and CASA grant agreements electronically via DocuSign; the commissioners approved the request. The board also approved the 2026 Harrison County government holiday schedule and the 2026 commissioners meeting schedule, approved and signed the county clerk Debbie Dennison’s public official bond, authorized two auditor’s office employees to carry unused vacation into 2026 and adjourned at 7:39 p.m.

Votes at a glance

- Approve regular claims: motion carried, 3 ayes, 0 nays (Commissioners Kellum, Wiseman, Stepro). - Approve payroll and prepaid vouchers: motion carried, 3 ayes, 0 nays. - Flagged vendor payments (various vendors and conditions): motions carried, 3 ayes, 0 nays. - Nexus Ltd bid (reassessment 2027–2030): one bid opened (not to exceed $647,000); bid taken under advisement for attorney review; no final vote recorded. - Adopt Resolution 2025-09 (I‑64/Hwy 135 NW economic development area): approved, 3 ayes, 0 nays. - Approve 5311 transportation third‑quarter claim ($132,666.00): approved, 3 ayes, 0 nays. - Accept Community Crossings grant notice for Bridge #43 ($319,562.77): announced; appropriation request to follow. - Approve highway personnel titles, CDL reinstatement (effective July 1, 2027), and reclassifications: approved, 3 ayes, 0 nays. - Approve $18,000 agreement with Harrison County Substance Abuse Coalition (to be signed outside meeting): approved, 3 ayes, 0 nays. - Ratify Emergency Management letter requesting $5,500 for Centegix intercom repairs: ratified, 3 ayes, 0 nays. - Approve electronic signing by auditor via DocuSign (sheriff and CASA grants): approved, 3 ayes, 0 nays. - Approve 2026 holiday and meeting schedules; approve clerk bond; allow vacation carryover: all motions approved, 3 ayes, 0 nays.

What’s next

The commissioners will review the Nexus Ltd reassessment bid after county attorney review at a future meeting and Mr. Russel will present an additional appropriation request for the Bridge #43 grant match at the next meeting. The county attorney will conduct the police union vote on Dec. 9, 2025.

Sources: Harrison County Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, Dec. 1, 2025. All motions and vote tallies are reported as recorded in the meeting minutes.