Jefferson County commissioners adopt BOT procurement for campground, approve routine contracts

The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners on July 9 unanimously adopted two resolutions allowing the county to use Indiana Code 5-23build-operate-transfer (BOT) procurement for the Jefferson Proving Ground Campground project and to make the procurement method available for future public projects.

The board approved Resolution 2026-13A, which authorizes the county to use the BOT procurement method for a campground to be located at 101 West JPG Ordnance Drive in Madison and to issue a request for proposals and qualifications (RFP/Q) for the project. County staff read the resolution into the record, noting that the project description includes site work, utilities, access roads and recreational improvements and that any BOT agreement will require public notice, bonding, clearly defined cost allocations and a public hearing before any award. "This gives us the option to use a streamlined delivery method if it fits the timeline and funding," a staff presenter (Committee member, speaker 5) said while reading the resolution. The board approved the resolution by a voice vote.

Immediately afterward the board approved Resolution 2026-14, a shorter measure adopting Indiana Code 5-23 for potential future projects and authorizing the county to issue RFPQs and form an RFPQ committee to review proposals. "The committee will include legal counsel, the municipal adviser and parks and recreation representation," staff said during the reading. The resolution likewise passed by voice vote.

Commissioners said the action creates the procedural authority to pursue a BOT transaction but does not itself award any contract or commit county funds. Staff noted the county recently received notice that the Regional Development Authority (RDA) plans to provide funding for the campground project and that the RDA funding must be spent by August 2028; that timing was given as part of the rationale for adopting the BOT provisions to allow faster delivery if necessary.

The board also handled routine business. Commissioners approved an on-call professional services agreement with United Consulting after staff described the contract as similar to existing on-call agreements and as written without a fixed dollar cap in the text. A presenter explained the arrangement allows flexibility for projects small and large; a commissioner (Committee member, speaker 5) moved to approve the agreement and another commissioner seconded. The motion carried by voice vote.

At the fairgrounds, the board accepted the low bid from Dan Christiani Excavating for $16,000 to grind vegetative debris and leave wood chippings on-site. "We have two bids and recommend the low bid of $16,000," the presenter (speaker 7) said; a motion to accept that bid passed by voice vote.

The commissioners also approved renewing annual chemical water-treatment contracts with Adam Chemical for the courthouse and the old jail at $150 per month per contract (a total of $300 per month), as staff explained the vendor provides ongoing chiller-system treatment for both facilities.

What happens next: Staff will prepare the RFP/Q for the campground in accordance with the BOT statute, establish an evaluation committee as authorized by the resolution and hold the statutorily required public hearing before awarding any BOT agreement. The board's actions on July 9 authorized the county to proceed with those procurement steps but did not award a BOT contract.