Bridge 105 awarded
Highway Supervisor Shawn Bonar notified the Wells County Commissioners that Bridge 105 was awarded for $1.8 million. The county’s cost for the rehabilitation will be $108,330.19.
Former County Engineer Nate Rumschlag advised the county had been quite fortunate in this award, and their only matching funds would be on the bridge’s inspection.
Bonar also requested the commissioners consider a new position for the office, citing that Rumschlag had handled a large portion of paperwork. Bonar said the department has had a difficult time keeping up with everything, particularly with their bookkeeper on vacation. The commissioners said they would consider the request and revisit it in the new year.
The department also opened a series of annual bids for materials, and apparent low bids were accepted in all cases. Bonar was also permitted to create a credit account through Northern Tool and Equipment to order materials for the new barn.
Jail construction stimied,sheriff frustrated
Sheriff Scott Holliday told commissioners Monday he expected work crews to be in the Wells County Jail to finish up HVAC work on Thursday but expressed frustration with how the work has been stretched out. “They’ve given every excuse under the sun,” Holliday said.
Holliday added that contractors had discussed closing out billing, but he would direct all conversations to the commissioners until the work is complete.
As of Monday, the jail housed 63 inmates — of this total, 26 were pre-trial holds for the Wells County Circuit Court, 16 pre-trial holds for the Superior Court, 11 from the Department of Correction, and six Level 6 felons.
Election board wraps year,gears up for 2024
Old polling machines have been officially disposed of, Wells County Clerk Beth Davis told the Election Board during their final meeting of the year Tuesday.
The board also learned that a portion of new polling machines had been delivered earlier this month. This year the County Council allocated just over $200,000 to replace the previous 20-year-old equipment.
The board will be meeting next at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16. Davis noted that election filing begins Jan. 10 and she expects to see a lot of action.
Board of Works celebrates Runyon
Tami Runyon, clerk-treasurer, completed her final Board of Works meeting Tuesday afternoon.
“We appreciate your service, we really do,” Mayor John Whicker said at the end of the meeting. “Forty-six years working for the same organization is quite an achievement. We appreciate that.”
The board approved a request to place a border to extend the Hideaway bar from to the street to accommodate a higher capacity on New Year’s Eve. The business placed the additional railing during the 2023 Bluffton Street Fair as well.
The board also:
• Approved one SRF claim to Kleinpeter Consulting LLC for $9,000.
• Approved a claim to VTF for $373,644.
• Approved the resignation of two part-time firefighters, Brianna Howe and Anthony Crossgrove.
• Approved a $1 per hour merit raise for a 911 dispatch position.
• Credited a resident for a water bill that was raised due to no fault of her own.
County partners with USI
Commissioners approved a partnership with USI Consultants to facilitate a Federal Rail Administration grant. Former County Engineer Nate Rumschlag encouraged the partnership, particularly with Jodi Coblentz of USI, who had previously helped the county.
“It sounds like a one-page flowchart of responsibilities, and it’s not. It’s numerous pages of documentation, different specific project statements, scopes of work responsibilities and titles,” Rumschlag advised. “And even more so, in my absence, I think it’s probably in your best interest to protect that million-dollar award because the Federal Highway is the one that’s overseeing this. (The Indiana Department of Transportation) is not assisting with the day-to-day administration with your grant from the federal highway.”
The agreement was made not to exceed $35,000.
Recycling Center reports year totals
Recycling Center Supervisor Kevin Poling reported approximately 12,400 vehicles came through thus far in 2023.
However, it concludes with one item in a possible limbo — glass collection. Poling told the Solid Waste District board he recently received notice that the company that purchased their glass collection is filing for bankruptcy. As of the Monday meeting, Poling was unsure if this meant the company was unable to collect materials or restructuring but would keep the board updated.
Additionally, Poling requested direction regarding many plastic trash bins that were previously used by the Sheriff’s Department’s collection of hazardous materials. Commissioner Jeff Stringer suggested the bins could be used by the Highway Department in their new building. The board agreed to revisit the item in January.
Stringer and board members Blake Gerber, John Whicker, Vicki Andrews, Scott Mentzer and Stephanie Tucker were present, and Commissioner Mike Vanover was absent.
— Compiled by Holly Gaskill
and Sydney Kent
