Commissioners approve short-term HWC planning services agreement, pay pending UDO invoice

The Hancock County Board of Commissioners voted Aug. 4 to approve a short-term professional services agreement with HWC for planning support and to pay an outstanding invoice tied to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) project.

Planning staff explained the HWC agreement will provide up to 16 hours per week of senior-planner support and one day per week in-office assistance; the contract is limited to 90 days and billed hourly with a not-to-exceed total of $32,900. "This will be billed hourly, not to exceed over the total course of the contract $32,900," staff said while summarizing the scope and expected billing. The board approved the contract with a recorded motion and second.

Separately, the board approved payment of an additional HWC invoice for UDO work in the amount of $6,684.99, to be paid from the commissioners' contractual line after staff confirmed available funds and accounting treatment. Planning staff said the consultant expects an adoption recommendation in early September after a virtual review of adoption drafts and a plan-commission public hearing.

What happens next: HWC will continue work on the adoption draft and staff will monitor consultant billing against the contract cap; the board asked staff to route any remaining procurement paperwork and counsel review to the county attorney prior to final contract signature.