The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About6-16-2026 GC Commissioner Meeting MinutesGibson County Board of Commissioners Regular Session June 16, 2026 at the Southwest Annex Commissioner Montgomery led the prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners present: • Nick Burns, President (absent until 5:07) • Chuck Lewis, Vice -President • Kenneth Montgomery, Commissioner Meeting Minutes - June 2, 2026 Commissioner Montgomery made a motion to approve minutes, seconded by Commissioner Lewis. The motion carried 2-0. Approval of Claims Commissioner Montgomery made a motion to approve claims, seconded by Commissioner Lewis. The motion carried 2-0. DEPARTMENT REPORTS EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Presented by AJ Aldridge and Arica Cole • EMS report was presented to Commissioners. • They are pursuing a GROW grant through IDH that will provide 100% funding for five years. The grant will provide community outreach services. They should know by September if awarded. • They will work to certify everyone in CPR at the highway department. Health Presented by Administrator Juli Ellsworth • The community baby shower this past weekend had a good turnout. • The Jackson Street Sewer Project is moving forward; they will be accepting bids tonight during the ARPA meeting. • They are looking at the building at 116 N 8`h Street as a future home; they will get an appraisal in July. • The VaxCare Program has been initiated at the health department; this will allow them to administer many more vaccines, including those with insurance and Medicare. This is a buy and bill program that eliminates upfront costs for the department. • The camper is listed as surplus and they will take sealed bids until July 13'' at 4p.m. The reserve bid is $14,500. • The SOFR (Suicide -Overdose -Fatality -Review) team has mailed an addiction brochure to all Gibson county residents. The cost of this was paid with the opioid grant. • Health Nurse, Diane has officially retired and they do have a replacement starting on Monday. • They are also seeking the GROW (Growing Rural Opportunities for Wellbeing) Grant. This is a five-year grant; they have submitted a letter of intent for this application which will provide them with funding for a community care worker. Commissioner Lewis asked if both EMA and Health Department could be awarded the grant and Administrator Shade confirmed that both departments could be awarded. Gibson County Commissioners June 16, 2026 Animal Services Presented by Sharon Werne • Animal Services have a large population of dogs and cats, but they have had several people step in to provide foster care. The highlight of this is they are in a program called foster to adopt. • Their staff continues to be an issue; they are always interviewing and hiring. • Saturday at the HUB, they will have a kitten palooza. The event will be rain or shine from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. • The Princeton Veterinary Clinic will host a wellness clinic on Saturday, June 27. The cost will be $20 and will provide a wellness check & vaccines for dogs or cats. People are asked to call the shelter for appointments. They will hold another clinic in the fall, but people only need to attend one of the clinics for the annual vaccines. • They will also have an adoption day on June 27' at Rural King. • Animal Services had a vehicle involved in a recent crash. The other vehicle was at fault. No one was seriously injured, only bruised. The insurance company intends to total the crashed vehicle; the County can buy it for salvage value. They need to make a vehicle decision quickly. • They are installing the perimeter fencing at the new building. OLD BUSINESS Jackson Street Sewer Project — Approve Low Bid Contract Presented by Attorney Spindler • These bids were recently opened, and they had six competitive bidders. • Low bid came from Keifer Brothers at $238,173. Commissioner Montgomery motioned to preliminary approve the low bid, pending ARPA approval, seconded by Commissioner Lewis. The vote was 2-0. Old Jail Demolition Project Update — Owner's Representative George Ballard • Princeton has granted permission to close one block of East Emerson Street for the demolition of the jail. Approval of Numbered Policies on pages 71-80 of Employee Handbook - Presented by Attorney Spindler • Attorney Spindler briefed the Commissioners on the policies that he is requesting preliminary approval on. Commissioner Montgomery motioned to preliminarily approve these pages of the employee handbook, seconded by Commissioner Lewis. The motion passed on a 2-0 vote. Introduction of Numbered Policies on pages 81-90 of Employee Handbook — Presented by Attorney Spindler • Attorney Spindler introduced the one policy remaining but did not request action on this matter. Commissioner Burns entered the meeting. Road Use Agreement Termination CR 1150E, 8505, and 1200E — Presented by Peabody Representative Ed Hartzburge • Peabody has road agreements that have been over bonded. • Engineer Holden says some of these roads were double and triple bonded. This is a cleanup of bonds, and they are not releasing anything that has not already been released. Commissioner Montgomery motioned to approve terminating the road use agreements, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote. Gibson County Commissioners June 16, 2026 2 Certificate of Substantial Completion on I-69/SR64 Project — Presented by Engineer Holden • This agreement will signify that Commissioners do agree there is substantial completion. Commissioner Montgomery motioned to approve the certificate of substantial completion, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote. TIF Perimeter Road Project Phase II/United Consulting Contract — Presented by Engineer Holden • Phase I was Tulip Tree Drive. • Phase R is the remainder of the roads, other than Tulip Tree Drive. • This contract covers the bid phase through final construction. • Funding will come from TIF. Commissioner Montgomery motioned to approve the contract with United Consulting, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote. NEW BUSINESS Highway Department Expansion Bid Opening — Presented by Attorney Spindler & Engineer Holden • Caliber Construction $297,000 • Edge Construction $299,300 • Engineer Holden felt that all documents were intact and in order; he recommended that Commissioners award the low bid. Commissioner Burns motioned to approve the low bid from Caliber Construction, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery. The vote was 3-0. Bi-Annual Fuel Bids for the Highway Department - Presented by Attorney Spindler & Engineer Holden • Bids were received from Wabash Valley Service Company & SynEnergy Partners. • Attorney Spindler and Engineer Holden recommended Commissioners accept the low bid from Wabash Valley Service since all their prices were lowest. Commissioner Burns motioned to approve the low bid from Wabash Valley Service Company, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery. The vote was 3-0. Fallen Soldiers Statute — Presented by Donald Lloyd • Mr. Lloyd is a veteran. He would like people to donate money to him for the purchase of this statue. The total cost is $1,474. • He hopes to raise $2,500 for this statue, it stands 5.6' tall and he will install the statue. • He has discussed this with the City of Princeton, and they showed interest in the project. • All commissioners are in favor of honoring the veterans. Commissioner Montgomery motioned to allow Mr. Lloyd to pursue this purchase; they will find a place for installation, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote. Review Bids for Old Jail Demolition — Presented by Garmong Representative, Joe Mattingly • There will be two steps in demolition of the old jail. • Tonight, they will discuss step one. • The guaranteed maximum price (GMP) is $691,975. • The GMP covers the demolition and bringing the property back up to subgrade. • He presented an itemized list of the ten bids that were received. • Garmong will sub -contract step one based on low bids taken. • If project begins in July, the estimated time of completion should be by the end of the year. • Attorney Spindler recommended Commissioners approve the Garmong summary page presented. Gibson County Commissioners June 16, 2026 3 Commissioner Lewis entertained a motion to approve Garmong's presentation for the jail demolition with a not to exceed amount of $691,975, contingent upon council funding. Commissioner Burns made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery. The vote was 3-0. • Step 2 will include perimeter fencing and site concrete that will complete the project. • Step 2 is set to bid on July 7t''. Animal Services Volunteer Group — Presented by Dr. Sarah Stewart Bailey and Several Other Representatives • Several volunteer group members spoke about the direction of Animal Services. • Commissioner Lewis thanked everyone for speaking as Commissioners have met with many of these people and have also had meetings with Emmy Corporation as they work toward a resolution. He feels it is work in progress, they are aware and looking for a solution with everyone in mind. Surplus Ambulances (2) — Presented by AJ Aldridge • EMS has two ambulances that are out of service and wish to declare them as surplus. • 2012 Ford E350 2016 Ford E350 Commissioner Montgomery motioned to declare this surplus, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote. Medical Leaves (3) Commissioner Burns motioned to approve the medical leaves, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote. Public Comments Sam Weiss, Fort Branch Citizen/Taxpayer • Mr. Weiss wondered if Commissioners were considering extending CR100. He does not like the idea of a four -lane road replacing open farmland. Commissioners Lewis explained there had been discussion about extending CR100 to SR 168 because of all the traffic in and around Toyota. They feel they are in the very infant stage of this. They also feel it will be investigated in more depth. Mr. Weiss wonders if the County would exercise eminent domain. Commissioner Lewis could not answer that question. Mr. Weiss does not feel this is a satisfactory solution and would rather see investments made on Highway 41. Adjournment Commissioner Montgomery motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The vote was 3-0. Meeting Minutes June 16, 2026 _ku c", Nick Burns, President Kenneth Montd6merv' C_Amisei ATTEST: Mike Watkins, Auditor Gibson County Commissioners June 16, 2026 Chuck Lewis, Vice President \\\��S0 / ��:• •. U_j i a <<eaeovo�� ►1 � Y � -L \:� 4