Perry County authorizes build‑operate‑transfer procurement, pursues $14M water grant and advances sewer/water study for I‑64 interchange

Perry County commissioners voted to authorize use of public‑private build‑operate‑transfer (BOT) agreements and to form an ad‑hoc committee to pursue a $14 million funding opportunity and oversee a competitive procurement process for a countywide rural water project.

The actions came after county staff and consultants from Westerling Engineering presented a proposed technical study to evaluate options for bringing water and sewer to the I‑64/State Road 37 interchange. "This is really kind of the culmination of wanting to make sure that the public is aware of the things that the county council and the county commissioners are doing," Jonathan said, introducing the communications and project materials and noting the county received 382 survey responses that staff recommended publishing.

Why it matters: Commissioners said expanded utility service at the interchange could make one of Perry County's undeveloped interchanges attractive for economic development. Staff and consultants stressed the engineering work is intended to identify feasible routes, cost estimates and funding pathways so that the county can apply for state and federal assistance.

Westerling Engineering outlined a scope that would produce a technical memo showing options (including connection to nearby utilities, long‑distance force‑mains, or a new regional sewer district), cost estimates and preliminary considerations to support grant applications such as SRF (State Revolving Fund) programs. The meeting packet included a proposal showing a basic study fee of about $20,000; staff indicated that, if the board approves moving forward, the county could fund the study from its economic development budget.

Commissioners discussed key technical constraints highlighted by the consultants: long force‑main distances (including potential routes to Tell City and Branchville), low flow/volume challenges that can make sewer systems unaffordable, and the possibility of interim low‑volume/septic alternatives while infrastructure matures. The consultants said the study would also evaluate whether creating a regional sewer district and building a local treatment plant would be viable.

On procurement, staff recommended adopting Indiana Code 5‑23 authority to allow an alternative procurement path where a developer can be selected through an RFPQ (request for proposals/qualifications) and participate in a scoping period before final design and construction. The board approved the first resolution authorizing BOT procurement (R‑C‑26‑1) and a companion resolution (R‑C‑26‑2) creating an RFPQ evaluation committee and authorizing pursuit of the $14 million grant. The committee, as presented in the packet, is to include the commissioners, a representative of the Indiana Water Authority (packet lists "General Manager Jackie Kilgard"—the transcript also records a variant "Kilgardner") and an optional county council member; commissioners also directed staff to add Troy Township and Patoka where appropriate.

The voice votes were recorded as unanimous 'Aye' on the floor; no roll‑call tallies were read into the record. Staff said the RFPQ committee will develop specifications and solicit developer teams, and that the engineering study would help assemble materials required by funders.

Next steps: Staff will finalize committee membership, post the RFPQ as authorized, and return to the board with procurement documents and any recommended contract award. The engineering study materials are intended to support future SRF or other grant applications.