Dubois County commissioners award paving contract, approve housing rehab bids and medical-provider switch

The Dubois County Commissioners on Jan. 21, 2025, approved a series of contracts and bid awards affecting roads, county facilities and inmate medical care.

Highway Engineer Brent Wendholt recommended and the board approved awarding the Hot Mix Paving CCMG 24-02 low bid to C&R Construction at $558,992.00; Wendholt said the roads are scheduled to be paved between April 7 and July 18, 2025. The recommendation and vote were recorded by the board and carried unanimously.

Jenny Matheis of the Region 15 Planning Commission presented an update on the H.E.L.P. Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation program and led review of bids opened earlier in the meeting; she reported $78,151.87 has been drawn down from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) for the program and recommended contractor awards for the submitted bids. The board moved to accept the awards as presented and carried the motion unanimously.

Commissioners also acted on county contracting and service agreements. A one-year Trimble Access software maintenance contract for the County Surveyor with Seiler Geospatial for $720 was noted as previously reviewed and approved. The board approved a $93,000 contract with American Structurepoint for design work on Bridge #78 rehabilitation, and a motion to declare two courthouse speaker units surplus was approved.

On inmate medical services, Commissioner Blessinger discussed a contract received from Sheriff Kleinhelter to switch care from Quality Correctional Care to Comprehensive Correctional Care (3C’s). The board voted to enter into an agreement with 3C’s subject to County Attorney Gregory Schnarr’s approval of the indemnification language and to serving the incumbent provider with a required 30-day notice; the motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Blessinger reported bids for the courthouse HVAC temperature control system were higher than anticipated. A scoring committee recommended Messmer Mechanical (low bid $257,236); the board voted to proceed with the Messmer Mechanical bid contingent on the County Council providing necessary funding.

The board also approved a revised Memorandum of Understanding presented by Purdue Extension Educator Chelsea Brewer for SWICACC (Center on 5th) to provide space at 505 W. 5th Street at $1,000 per month (effective Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025). Auditor Sandra L. Morton and County Attorney Gregory Schnarr presented public official bond amounts for 2025 and the board approved them as presented; the sheriff’s bond had not yet been obtained.

Several routine items were handled by unanimous votes, including adoption of 2025 hourly equipment rates for the Highway Department (aligned with FEMA rates) and acceptance of 2024 encumbrances carried into the 2025 budget.

Votes at a glance

- Hot Mix Paving CCMG 24-02: Awarded to C&R Construction for $558,992.00; motion carried unanimously (Wendholt recommended). (Topic introduced SEG 035; decision recorded SEG 065)

- H.E.L.P. Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation: Multiple contractor awards accepted as recommended by Region 15 Planning Commission; motion carried unanimously. (Introduced SEG 015; awards approved SEG 073–081)

- Inmate medical services: Motion to enter agreement with Comprehensive Correctional Care (3C’s) subject to County Attorney review of indemnification language and 30-day notice to incumbent; motion carried unanimously. (Introduced SEG 093; action recorded SEG 098–100)

- Courthouse HVAC temperature controls: Motion to proceed with Messmer Mechanical (low bid $257,236) contingent on County Council funding; motion carried unanimously. (Introduced SEG 110; action recorded SEG 113–114)

- Purdue Extension MOU with SWICACC: Approved (space at 505 W. 5th Street, $1,000/month for 2025). (Introduced and approved SEG 041–047)

- Public Official Bonds for 2025: Approved as presented (sheriff's bond not obtained at time of meeting). (Introduced SEG 048–054)

What’s next

Wendholt said paving is scheduled to occur between April 7 and July 18, 2025, and the courthouse HVAC work will proceed only if the County Council provides the necessary funding. The inmate medical agreement with 3C’s will not be finalized until County Attorney Schnarr approves the indemnification language and the required notice is provided to the incumbent provider.