Commissioners award H.E.L.P. owner-occupied rehab bids, review ambulance remount proposals and approve routine contracts

At the Oct. 6 meeting, Dubois County Commissioners approved multiple routine contracts and bid awards and reviewed proposals for county services.

The Region 15 Planning Commission's Jenny Matheis opened and later recommended awards for the H.E.L.P. Owner Occupied Rehabilitation program; the Board approved the recommended electrical, HVAC and roofing bids for several homeowner projects. Matheis reported the program currently has 10 homes in progress and 22 completed; four homes received no bids, and three require radon mitigation guidance from OCRA.

The Board opened bids to remount Ambulance #431 for 2027; three vendors submitted proposals (American Response Vehicles $276,600; MacQueen Emergency $298,698; Emergency Vehicles Plus $334,897). EMS Coordinator Ryan Young said lead times are about 18 months for a remount and three years for a new vehicle; he will review the bids and return with recommendations.

The Board also approved a Samaritan Fund Program contract presented by HR Generalist Markie Rhodes and Max Bawel of Houchens Insurance Group, and approved a recording-software contract with Fidlar Technologies for the Recorder's Office. A support and maintenance contract with JAVS for the court recording system was approved, and the remote-access Memorandum of Understanding for courthouse security cameras was adopted.

Votes at a glance: the H.E.L.P. bid awards, Samaritan Fund Program, Fidlar contract, JAVS contract and remote-access MOU were approved unanimously; ambulance bids were taken under advisement and no award was made.