The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About3-17-2026 GC Commissioner Meeting MinutesGibson County Board of Commissioners Regular Session March 17, 2026, at Southwest Annex Commissioner Montgomery led the prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners present: • Nick Burns, President • Chuck Lewis, Vice -President (absent) • Kenneth Montgomery, Commissioner Meeting Minutes • March 3, 2026 minutes were presented. Commissioner Montgomery made a motion to approve minutes, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The motion carried 2-0. Approval of Claims Commissioner Montgomery made a motion to approve claims, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The motion carried 2-0. Commissioners Acknowledged Clerk / Treasurer's Reports 10Of7\__131Yu1 ►18.9DI0]W161 Animal Services - Presented by Sharon Werne • The new building is progressing. • Cruising for critters car show fundraiser is an upcoming event. • Gibson County has a feral cat problem; a local lady is going to start fundraising to try and help with this problem. • The current shelter population is forty-four dogs and seventy-five cats. • They are experiencing high employee turnover; Some employees are working 7 days per week. • She feels conditions at the shelter are not always great due to this problem. OLD BUSINESS Old Jail Demolition Project Update — Owner's Representative George Ballard • RFPs were due yesterday and will be opened tonight. RFP Proposal for Construction Management on Demolition of Old Jail — Presented by Attorney Spindler • Attorney Spindler recommended a committee be formed to review and choose the construction manager. He has a formula that will be used to score each proposal. • The committee will consist of the Owner's Representative, Attorney Spindler and one Commissioner; Commissioner Burns will be the Commissioner. Commissioner Montgomery made a motion to approve the committee, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The vote was 2-0. • Attorney Spindler opened the one RFP from Garmong. • Attorney Spindler asked to take the bid under advisement. Gibson County Commissioners March 17, 2026 • Commissioner Montgomery made a motion to take the bid under advisement, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The vote was 2-0. Update from Health Department on Opioid Funds — Presented by Health Director Ellsworth • Health Department is working on using Opioid Funds; they have a planning committee that will decide on the uses. The committee meets regularly. Update from Senior Center on Opioid Funds — Presented by Director Ronda Colbert • They received $13,468.00. • They have purchased supplies, materials, and guest speakers for their AHA class. Update from Remnant Warrior Ministries on Opioid Funds — Presented by Lori Frederick • $30,000 was received; $1,319 has been spent on membership, materials/ supplies, and advertising. Update from Gibson County Probation on Opioid Funds — Presented by Amy Ellis • A kiosk was purchased with opioid funds which allows minimal risk offenders to check in. The service also enables breathalyzers to be given. They have 446 people on probation; 60% of them score as minimal risk and can use the kiosk. Open Chip Spreader/Distribution Truck Bids — Presented by Attorney Spindler • Dubois County Highway Dept bid $105,001 for Chip Spreader; $105,001 for Distributor Truck • Davies County bid $102,000 for Chip Spreader; $88,000 for Distributor Truck • Harrison County bid $120,000 distributor truck only. • High bids will be awarded to Dubois County for the chip spreader and Harrison County for the distributor truck, pending the County Engineer's approval. Commissioner Burns motioned to approve both high bidders, contingent upon the County Engineer's approval, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery. The vote was 2-0. Approval of Numbered Policies on pages 11-20 of the Employee Handbook - Presented by Attorney Spindler • These policies were introduced at a prior meeting. Attorney Spindler recapped the policies. Attorney Spindler requested preliminary approval of these policies. Commissioner Montgomery motioned to approve pages 11-20 of the handbook, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The motion passed on a 2-0 vote. Introduction of Numbered Policies on pages 21-30 of Employee Handbook — Presented by Attorney Spindler • This section is unchanged from the previous version. Attorney Spindler briefly explained which policies will be reviewed and discussed at the next meeting. 191 11. ly LtI xW Southwest District Service Officer, Kevin Hinton • Mr. Hinton explained IC10-17-1-9 formally SEA 433 sets the terms of how Veteran Affairs will govern the veteran service officers in the State of Indiana. He told Commissioners that the Gibson County Service Officer, George Pickersgill, is compliant with this code. He will be required to attend mandatory, periodic training. Part -time Position for Veteran Service Officer — Presented by Director George Pickersgill Gibson County Commissioners March 17, 2026 2 r • ti ti ti •1 � 7 .1 d • ti. Y • 0. • As a result of recent tax legislation, the disabled veteran deduction will require all disabled veterans in the county to refile their deduction within a six-month period. He feels he will need help with this and requests a part-time person for $16 per hour. He will keep this person busy. While not working on the deductions, this person can help digitize records. He requests this person be hired for one and a half years and they will determine the status of this part-time person after that. He requests permission from Commissioners to approach the Council for additional appropriation to hire a part-time employee. Commissioner Montgomery motioned to approve a part-time employee in the Veteran's Service Department, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The motion passed on a 2-0 vote. Gibson County Safety Action Plan Surveys • Engineer Holden requests that the public go to the County's website to complete a survey. Road Studies on CR 150 East & CR 600 South for Three -Way Stop Sign & CR 850 East & CR 350 South for a Four -Way Stop Sign— Presented by Sheriff Vanoven • These road studies will be reviewed next month as the Deputy conducting the road studies is on medical leave. • The Sheriff will step up patrols in the areas until the study is complete. Public Defender Office — Presented by Public Defender Moody • The Public Defender caseloads have increased every year since the department was established in 2020. • This situation requires her to request a new attorney, but she will only be adding a partial attorney. • Public Defender Moody is ranked as a 1.0 caseload, while the other four attorneys are ranked as .66 caseloads. Attorney Spindler does not receive health insurance from her office, so he will step down to a .33 caseload and someone new will come in to take his .66 caseload and they will receive insurance. • The cost for Attorney Spindler and the additional health insurance will be paid from the Supplemental Public Defender fund 1200 for one year only and then they will both move to the general fund in 2027. Commissioner Montgomery motioned to approve the additional attorney, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The motion passed on a 2-0 vote. Medical Leaves Commissioner Montgomery motioned to approve medical leaves, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The motion passed on a 2-0 vote. Approve Advertising of TIF County Road/Local Funded Paving Projects — Attorney Spindler Commissioner Montgomery motioned to approve this paving advertisement, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The vote was 3-0. Public Comments Gibson County Chamber of Commerce, Patty Vanoven • There will be upcoming ribbon cuttings at Hucks & 1776 Fireworks. • The golf scramble will be on May V' at Princeton Country Club. • The Chamber is organizing the 250" celebration parade on July 0. Participants can register at Go Gibson. The Chamber is selling advertisements for their Directory, visit Go Gibson. Gibson County Commissioners March 17, 2026 3 Katie Gayso voiced safety concerns about CR 600 South. She suggested more signage and more patrols at staggered times of the day. James Hart lives between SR 168 and CR 600 South, and he spoke about vehicle safety concerns and wonders if a radar sign would help slow people down. Karen Thompson lives on CR 600 South, and she suggests making a three way stop to help slow people down. Dana Gansman lives on CR 600 South and feels people drive too fast. She feels the average speed seems to be 50-70 miles per hour. Joe Knapp fanns along CR 175 and CR 600; he feels there is a lot of aggressive driving and illegal passing on double yellow lines. There is also a lot of litter. He feels one of the worst things is people running school bus stop aims. He hopes for more patrols or anything the county can do to help with this safety issue. Jeremy Gansman lives in the CR 600 South area. He feels another road for Toyota traffic should be created. He feels this was discussed some years ago, however, one homeowner stopped the progress. He suggested the County explore this option again. Adjournment Commissioner Montgomery motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The vote was 2-0. Meeting Minutes March 17, 2026 Nick Burns, President 401 e�14 Kenneth o t o ry, Comm sioner Chuck Lewis, Vice President ATTEST: Mike Watkins, Auditor •' Gibson County Commissioners March 17, 2026 ,�dlljjjjlol�� ,,,1111111111"' GJBSO �C 5. EA L :Z 4