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Home My WebLink About04-21-2026 GC Commissioners Meeting MinutesGibson County Board of Commissioners Regular Session April 21, 2026 at Southwest Annex Commissioner Montgomery led the prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners present: • Nick Burns, President • Chuck Lewis, Vice -President • Kenneth Montgomery, Commissioner Meeting Minutes • April 7, 2026 minutes were presented. Commissioner Montgomery made a motion to approve minutes, seconded by Commissioner Lewis. The motion carried 3-0. Approval of Claims Commissioner Lewis made a motion to approve claims, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery. The motion carried 3-0. Commissioners Acknowledged the Clerk/Treasurer reports DEPARTMENT REPORTS EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Presented by AJ Aldridge and Arica Cole • They have one full-time employee retiring and one full-time employee resigning. • On May 2" d there will be a Spring Fling on the square where they will conduct CPR training. They will also do this training at Heritage Days. • On May 8" they will have a simulation lab at the station where some classes will be conducted. Animal Shelter Update Presented by Sharon Werne • May 2°d is the Car & Antique Machine Show at the Fairgrounds. They will hold a raffle and fundraise for animal services. • Rural King will hold an outdoor adoption event on April 25t'. • Dr. Stewart was instrumental in getting cats sent north for adoption, which helped reduce the cat population to 33. They also have a dog population of 45. • They hope to be in the building by June or July. They invited everyone out to help paint before moving animals into the new building. • TIF money allowed them to construct a small medical room in which they will spay/neuter. • A lady in the community will be fundraising to do surgery on feral cats. • They hope to fundraise enough money to finish the building. ARPA, TIF and private donors have paid for the building. OLD BUSINESS Old Jail Demolition Project Update — Owner's Representative George Ballard • May 121h is the set date for a pre -bid meeting at 11:00. • May 28 1hat 9 a.m. is the date set for the bid opening meeting. Gibson County Commissioners April 21, 2026 /OO1 BCS Maintenance Agreement — Presented by BCS Representative Andrew Beitler • The cost of the agreement is $76,080. • An email was sent after the last meeting to explain the broadcast system in the Courthouse. He suggested a training class on the system in the next two weeks. Commissioner Lewis motioned to approve the BCS one-year maintenance agreement through May 21, 20271 seconded by Commissioner Montgomery. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote. Approval of Numbered Policies on pages 31-40 of Employee Handbook - Presented by Attorney Spindler • Attorney Spindler requested preliminary approval on these pages. Commissioner Burns motioned to preliminarily approve the above -named pages, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote. Introduction of Numbered Policies on pages 41-50 of Employee Handbook — Presented by Attorney Spindler • Sections will be circulated to Commissioners by Attorney Spindler; the handbook is also online for anyone to review. • No action is needed on this matter. Recommendations on Road Studies - Presented by Sheriff Vanoven CR 100 East and 600 South Three -Way Stop Proposal CR 850 East and 350 South Four -Way Stop Proposal Commissioners have discussed the road study recommendations with Engineer Holden; he has suggested that Commissioners table this for further discussion. Sheriff Vanoven stated that a four-way stop is not recommended at CR850 East and CR350 South. Commissioner Lewis motioned to table these items pending further discussion with County Engineer Holden, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote. Bridge #73 Construction Inspection Contract — Presented by County Engineer Holden • This is a contract with American Structurepoint and approved through INDOT. Commissioner Lewis motioned to approve the contract with American Structurepoint, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote. GCPO-26 Paving Bids • This project is a 100% locally funded paving project. • Attorney Spindler and Engineer Holden opened the bids. o J.H. Rudolph $1,161,371.20 o David Enterprises $1,531,979.60 o E&B Paving 1,303,207.64 Commissioner Lewis motioned to approve the low bid from JH Rudolph, contingent upon review of the bid packet and ensuring all paperwork is complete, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote. GCPO-TIF26 Paving Bids • This project is being paid through the TIF funding. • Attorney Spindler and Engineer Holden opened the bids. o JH Rudolph $2,033,148.28. o David Enterprises $2,668,300.45 Gibson County Commissioners April 21, 2026 2 f-00�, o E&B Paving $2,255,313.12 Commissioner Lewis motioned to approve the low bid from JH Rudolph contingent upon review of the bid packet and ensuring all paperwork is complete, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote. CR 100 East Intersection Upgrade Project • This is the work being done through the Toyota Grant. • The work will be an intersection/signal upgrade on CR 350S and CR 100E & CR 100E & CR 500S. • Attorney Spindler and Engineer Holden opened the bids. o Koberstein Contracting $1,026,323.20 o Russell Excavating $1,243,852.00 o Weddle Bros Highway Group $1,056,826.55 o BBI (Blankenberger Brothers Inc.) $1,162,900.00 Commissioner Lewis motioned to approve the low bid from Koberstein Contracting contingent upon review of the bid packet and ensuring that all paperwork is complete, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote. Resolution 2026-04 for Septic Related Issues at the Gibson County Health Department — Presented by Attorney Spindler • This resolution addresses common problems that the health department often has trouble addressing. • The resolution will enable the Health Department enforcement procedures for failed systems or the illegal discharge of sewage. Commissioner Lewis motioned to adopt this resolution, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote. NEW BUSINESS Administrative Assistant Position Addition — Presented by Prosecutor Cochren • Prosecutor Cochren requests an additional Administrative Assistant in his office due to the high number of cases and the fact that he has someone on an emergency FMLA. • He has been before the Council and has their approval contingent upon the Commissioners' approval. • He would like to fund this position from the Deferral User Fee Fund 2502. • As long as the deferral fund stays consistent, he feels fund 2502 should be able to fund this position in future years. Commissioner Lewis motioned to approve the addition of an Administrative Assistant to the Prosecutor's Office, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote. Exemption to Subdivision Ordinance — Splits with Prior Recorded Legal Descriptions Presented by Attorney Spindler • Attorney Spindler asked Commissioners to take this item under advisement until the Subdivision Committee has had time to review the new legislation. Commissioner Montgomery motioned to table this item, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The motion was tabled with a 3-0 vote. Medical/Personal Leaves Commissioner Montgomery motioned to approve the medical leave, seconded by Commissioner Burns. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote. Gibson County Commissioners April 21, 2026 3 Public Comments Gibson County Chamber of Commerce, Patty Vanoven • Ribbon Cutting and Grant opening in Oakland City on May 9. • The Chambe golf scramble is on May 81' • The 4" of July parade is being organized. Go to their website for more details. This will also be opening day of the fair, which is one day early as they will also host the fireworks show. • The Chamber Directory is fully funded by their members and will be distributed in January 2027. Joe Knapp • He spoke about the stop sign on CR 600 S and 100 E. • He does not agree with the placement of the stop sign in this area. He feels it will cause a burden on local people, rather than the Toyota traffic. • The sheriff department is patrolling in this area, and he feels it is making a difference. Dana Gansman • Wonders if the sheriff s road studies could be viewed by the public. • Ms. Gansman agreed the presence of law enforcement does seem to help and agreed that an additional stop sign is not going to help but feels it will add to the congestion. She also feels spending $5,000 on an electronic sign would be a waste. Katie Gayso • She wonders if Commissioners have any feedback on the school bus stop or children at play signs. Ms. Gayso would like the signs placed in her yard. Commissioners advised them to contact AAA of Indiana to get the signs, and the county highway department will install them. Janet Koester • She does not feel a thirty -mile per hour speed limit should be enforced on this road, she feels it is too slow. Adjournment Commissioner Montgomery motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Lewis. The vote was 3-0. Meeting Minutes April 21, 2026 a/u ��t� Nick�ums, President Kenneth Mottg ery, C issioner /1 ATT T: 4Aie- , uVE,1s i aw" 6�"_ Chuck Lewis, Vice President Gibson County Commissioners April 21, 2026 4