New Morgan County commissioner sworn in; board assigns committees and discusses EMS funding and county finances

Mike Kers was introduced and welcomed as the newest Morgan County commissioner during the March 2 meeting. Commissioners moved to appoint him to several boards, including the group insurance board, the Morgan County Plan Commission and the downtown revitalization board; votes on those appointments were taken by voice vote and carried.

"Thank you, Don," Kers said after the introduction. Commissioners praised his planning and downtown experience and discussed which committees require statutory review before replacing prior appointees.

The board also discussed a proposed right‑of‑way fee ordinance intended to charge fees for work in county rights‑of‑way similar to neighboring counties. Commissioner Eddie presented a draft fee schedule and the board agreed in concept but tabled formal adoption so the county attorney can review language and staff can finalize the schedule.

The meeting included extended remarks by the chair about county administration and fiscal strategy. The chair described a $24,000 contract with consultant Josh Mesmer (an economic development/administration contractor) to provide short‑term administrative support and noted the county’s reliance on consultants after losing in‑house engineering staff. He defended recent capital projects, including planned EMS stations and courthouse work, cited concerns about Medicaid reimbursement shortfalls for EMS and said he had been working with state legislators about impacts of Senate Enrolled Act One on local revenues.

The board did not take additional fiscal votes beyond the appointments and the administrative contract discussions at the March 2 meeting.