Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Okay. 9:00. Welcome everybody to the January 27, 2026 water management meeting. Let's stand for pledge.

I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, we'll start with claims. Storm water fund storm water management board approval. Keller ditch 25 $2,575. Can we do these all together, Scott? Yes, sir. Shortest subdivision 17,550. Salt Creek Valley subdivision $12,81820 and Turtle Run subdivision $775. Second.

We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries. Second. We have a request for quote results, quoting acceptance contract orders. Would you like to? Yeah, sure.

Uh, so this is our annual maintenance and maintenance and construction services agreements for February 1st, 2006 through January 31st, 2077. Uh this is for labor and equipment used in con uh storm water construction maintenance activities uh to assist the department with the routine operation repair maintenance activities on Porter Countyy's public storm water infrastructure. Uh we are uh proposing contract awards to the following contractors. The Dalton Inc. Green Line Landscaping and Escavating Heritage Drone Services LLC John's Brothers Highland and Escavating Inc. K&L Escavating LLC, National Power Riding Corp, RNR Visual Inc. and Brothers Esavating. Move

that we approve the annual construction maintenance service. Second, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries. Contract awards.

Uh this is our annual professional services agreement for February 1st, 2026 through January 31st, 2027. Uh this is for storm water related professional services uh to provide professional services as needed related to the development, administration and implementation of our storm water programs. We are proposing that the uh that contracts be awarded to the following firms. Advanced Engineering Services Inc., American Structure Point, Inc. Butler Fairman Keeper Inc. uh Christopher Neber Engineering LTB Indiana Inc. JMA Inc. uh FWCA Environmental Consultants, Soil Solution Inc. and uh West Engineering that we approve the professional services.

We have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. Motion carries. Bridge report. I think first we have the storm water program.

Storm water program management report. Uh so so far for 2026 we have initiated 18 projects to date. Uh some of those are uh capital projects that uh started in 2025 design and um implementations and then some some of those have also been maintenance maintenance projects. If you go to the next slide please. Uh in 2025 I wanted to do a drench concerns and review. I mentioned last meeting that we've received in 2025 we received 180 concerns total. Um as you guys are aware this is significantly less than what we have received previous years. Um I would like to say it's because we're doing such a good job that you know there's no more concerns throughout the county but I think really it was a dry year. So I think that we're seeing that number be pretty much half of what we had typically received. Um, one item of note is that 80 of those concerns resulted in a project of some sort. Uh, 23 concerns resulted in storm water projects. So that's removing debris and trees from the regulated drains, sink repair or repairs to storm water infrastructure. 17 of those uh 80 were new wildlife management projects. So that's the uh beaver trapping or beaver dams within regulated streams. Uh two of those concerns were related to an ongoing drainage study in High Meadows West Subdivision and 38 of those 80 concerns uh related to um issues with uh for Porter County Highway Department. So investigation or cleaning of the rightway, cleaning inlets or outlets uh within the roadway itself or uh work with um issues with rightway work um that were caused by a vendor that was taking a rightway permit that uh we resolved with them. So a good synopsis and a huge thank you to Lor Arson. She's our project manager who manages our

drainage concern portal. um being able to provide this snapshot to show that, you know, while we did receive uh fewer drainage complaints than we typically do, um around half of those drainage complaints did result in a project or in initiate some sort of uh action follow up on on our steps. So, I wanted to just provide that snapshot of the year for you guys. Do you have any uh questions for me with that? Any questions? The only question I have is like what is the top thing that you have for 206 that you would say?

Yeah. So, um the highest priority project that we have is the rolling metal subdivision storm water or storm sewers reconstruction. Um we have briefly talked about that before, but it'll be the storm sewer reconstruction from the detention basin uh on Angelica Court. Um and then along the drive. So that's currently um going through the design process. We're looking to get that bid out uh here probably in March at this point. Um but still have that under construction this year. When was that uh developed into construction?

Uh it was pretty much the same time as carriage hills. So the late 90s early 2000s. Um and unfortunately the storm sort of looks not quite as bad as carriage hills but just about the same. You have the infamous heart-shaped HT. So and do you have a projected date when all the AR funds will be exhausted?

Yes. So all of the ARPA projects uh have reached substantial completion. Um so the only outstanding ones uh it's just minor contract uh items that need to be gone through or a few items for final completion with final restoration. Uh so all all of those will be completed I would say by May 31st and that that would be full completion final in May. So we will definitely be meeting her deadline. Good. Any other questions? Thank you. Okay. Now we'll move on to the bridge report.

Morning. Uh just a quick update from last uh last 34 on bridge 150 springs over time river we did confirm gas line that was gend we did get to go out there and are confirming that it was dead ended. Uh so we don't anticipate utility conflict with that. Frontier will be lashing the new poles on January 30th and that they will be officially out of uh conflict with the contractors so they can complete or come on first day of work on February 2nd. So we are on schedule. Uh next slide. Bridge 32. We did hold a utility coordination meeting. That's all the utilities on site. This is the bad road bridge. Um, we did confirm that all the utility were accelerating the work band review this has a 75 day or 90day review process for major projects. We're accelerating that so we can uh meet our schedule of uh uh May 29th let so that should be that should be about all right to move forward there. We are going to be getting right of entry on the west side of the bridge where uh utility poles are going to be relocated. We're going to do that to accelerate the project to make sure that those are uh in uh clear in time for the utility relocation motors slightly outside. We don't want our rightway acquisition to delay that at all. So we're going to make sure we can go into that clear that ahead of time.

Who owns that property? Uh there are two parcel owners residences on the west side. Next slide. M road uh they did have some slower uh miscal overhead work plan because of the cold weather. We are they do schedule for January 28th completion. We are going to see about that. Uh but it shouldn't it shouldn't be too much work underway. Um we did hold our pre-construction meeting uh with all the construction and whispering fans uh involved right joint force man relocation that we received we have a for whispering exams portion that's going to be presented at the commissioner's meeting today and uh gas t scheduled for February 9th uh we're anticipating that the relocation is going to happen in March So, we are on track for that project. So,

they've been out there periodically. I don't know. Look like they they may have been on the line. Yeah. Centi Electric has been doing the overhead on the left side. Yeah. So, all that matting up here, it's luckily there's delay allowing this uh Comcast to use their matting and not have to mobilize again with their own equipment. So kind of what you know they had some off days that contacting that kid over there and can't use that magic under 2T of snow now.

Yeah. So we are moving forward and uh don't anticipate any utility conflict and should be okay to proceed for first day April 1st contract early start work for Ellis construction. That's all I have. And what was the uh uh what are we projected as of springs bridge uh as a completion date? It's in July. I choose slide. Uh September 1st contract. September 1st. Okay. S September 1st contract. What's the completion then? Uh that's the contract completion date.

Oh yeah. So that's that's their way this is answer. And we're still was at 150 off the six. Is that 150 or 250? The bridge. Oh 200 left. 200. Yes. Yeah. Bridge 132. And when's our completion date for that? That is going to be Next slide, please. Okay. That's August 7th, 2026. Okay. General Springs Road will start February 2nd. Yeah. The town's been made aware of all those dates. Yes. Okay.

Yeah. Westwood has been talking involving subdivisions. Uh after these reports I give you I distribute those to all the subdivision HOA points of contact in the area. Did you become aware? We had a lady uh contact me on Facebook telling us that we're doing it all wrong. should take that long. I invited her to our meeting here, but she she evidently didn't show up. We could use her experience and knowledge. I can get

most of the subdivision subdivisions have been very appreciative of being forthright and uh some residents still reach out from say they haven't heard anything. So I I we're trying our best to keep people aware. Any other questions? Okay. Thank you. And thank you. Okay. Any other matters which may come before the order?

None. Okay. Next meeting, February 17, 2026, 9:00 a.m. This meeting is in recess. Thank you. You got 9:30. Yeah.

I'll go grab my phone so I can show you pictures. Thank you. Yeah, we're ging to you later or do you want to wait? Okay. Is there a power for this? No.

Thank you for your Oh, I way too soon for that. way. I mean, parts of that conversation were stuff that's not normally necessary.

And then I recall like 10 days later, you're perfect. Yeah. You know, what do you think that means if things are going or bad? I'm not kidding. I'm not trying to realization as I said. You don't need to call me back. I left your message yesterday. Yeah.

Good. Yes. Oh, it was sunny. Oh, I'm sorry. I don't have a call where you called me. I knew you when I was logged in.

Oh, that's I mean damn contract terms.

Who the hell writes to the phone yesterday? So that's Bailey and not Kayie. You're showing all of us, right? Yes. Yeah. No, just just another really starting to reach and getting close to crawling. So, the problem that we're having with our screens, is this fixable?

I don't know. It sounds like you you just asked an IG question. I dare you anybody talking about it. You were sitting here and I was talking you over and grabbing Bailey's head system right before I got and I have a 15year-old. I would have loved to have been a part of the detective.

So, we're kind of doing a combo. Um, my mother-in-law actually her last week, so she'll be home with them three days a week. Um, my mom does a day and then my husband and I are going to share Fridays to figure out, you know, right now he's using up historic from what? Civil engineering. Yeah, we met in college. Yeah, he's been using it for a long time. I'm afraid

because we don't know about them in college right outside of college. So So

to your point about the it work thing. I know he's feel like we can work from home if we have to, but especially now with the kids. So, we enjoy going to the office that uh it's right in downtown. Um do you know where uh culinary vesic is? kind of go right in. They do a lot of work which is hard to find.

Uh they've done a lot of work for Cedar Lake and then they've done some work for they still work. Mhm. I heard that's a med I think he's been with for for 12 years but the people and managers do a lot of work for the KBC River.

Yes. Yeah. They I know this is this is like they have quite a bit and I think what he said it's not going to be or is it set up so that it always loops is it always being patched instead of fix the patch is this big giant list of directions all I'm not saying I know for sure I just know that come on I know I'm having to think about it to say this system get the out of here

I had to think about it like when the people since I've been here this is the third system November 14th I know that one and it's the same just throw it on the pile that's all how long have you I'm not saying I had cancer it's just 3 years in other counties. So we have the people sitting there fishing so you can't see their in St. Joe County they have you can see a view of the people that are sitting there and you can see the view of commissioners. That's right.

And so you never got a chance to see the people who are actually talking to us. Um, I was a late I was in it was higher than you know. I'll just tell you the thing that was overlooked. They didn't even have a volume in that other room so that you could turn down the volume if you were having a different volume in that room same volume as it was in this room cuz they didn't even think to put a separate volume switch in that.

They knew I realized that right away and luckily you know that was changed but I think the system people decide the use then you're out with the users you're going to have technical people designing it from their perspective not from the perspective they use it so they're very techy they don't check it it's being used they have it has to use I mean so complicated to be around.

Okay. Be able to enjoy your retirement. Yeah. I got you hobbies that I want to retire. Wait, I have pictures. Yes. Yes. So I was telling Jim the video might be easier. So this is Bailey. And then that is Katie. How come she's got a woman? So uh her sister was sitting on her head in the room and so her neck she had to collus. So she was always trying her head to the left and the left side of her head got flat. So the helmet is to correct her head shape. Yeah. My niece had one of those.

Come on. You got it. She's Bailey's super close to crawling.

Oh my lord. Look at that pumpkin. Yeah, I know. Oh, they're look well fed. Yeah, they're they're doing good, man. Look how distressed they look. Those big old smiles face. THEY'RE JUST you can tell they're living in some anxiety. You you mentioned a pumpkin one. I don't know if you you guys probably haven't seen online, but you put your babies in pumpkins. We did We're done. Yeah, that was We just want You didn't You didn't publish this meeting, did you?

Yeah, we did. Oh, you did. Okay, then we have to wait till 9:30. Have you guys? Yes, I gave them all. Okay, so they're open. Let's don't complicate this meeting. All right. In and out. I brought a copy. I'm running the meeting. It's going to be very in and out.

But we have to wait till 9:30 because Are we making money here? Look at your report. 7.1 million. Yeah, I bet I did. Look like last year was a little better, huh?

Better rates are coming down. credit rate is 3.75 and it was down from 4.5

still $101. How much major movement money you still have? We still have a little bit of hot hospital savings here.

This was only the interest. There's there's an actual balance.

Maybe in the future you can show the balance too. Is that that hospital savings? Is that the what the term of un our full term of art of um our holding account is that interest from that or is this the traditional old account that we had put money in and then all the all the monies that went to the foundation came from the hospital savings? Yes. This was the leftover we had kept here to fund I think ambulance. Yes. That's what But is it 59 total or is that 59 made in interest? That's just interest total.

That's way too much now. Yeah. What do you mean? We were all We have been budgeting under the impression that that hospital savings account, to be clear, the money when we sold the hospital, I think 10 or $15 million got put into that account way back when. We paid for um ambulance out of it. It made interest. It poured back into it. And when we last budget session, I think exactly. I'm like, hold on a second. Interest. So, this is interest we made last year. Yeah. We might have paid it last year then.

Does that make sense? meaning that the account had about 67 800,000 in it at the beginning of the year. We were spending it down. It was still making interest. We might have even mapped a little bit at the end to get us through last year. So, it makes sense. We spent it all last year, but during that process, oh, is that in a separate consolation phase of those monies or is that going to the general fund? Well, that's that's if you're reading this, but that I'm under the impression there's money in that account, which you're saying there's not. Well, I think this is a report of interest, what we earned, not balances.

So, if he's it that fund has been coming down, so I'm not sure the current balance I have to question is does the interest stay with the principal when it comes to that particular fund? Yes. Yes. Okay. Could you let us know what's in that account? Yes. I'd have to go. And the reason I say that is, you know, remember the conversations that we were having about um fire districts, fire territories, and how if we found somebody that was willing to consolidate that, we would help them a little bit.

Yeah. And if that money is available in that line, even if we need some consulting help on some of this district or territory stuff or whatever we may need as that process unveils itself, at least we have some money that would be available to help if you need some numbers or we have the monthly report I file with the auditor. It's a

it's a four page. It's a two-page report. At the second page, it has balances of our accounts. One of those is this account specific and it will show you on that second page the current balance. I filed that each month with the auditor and it is for the commissioner I believe. So you should be getting one before

we can buy an ambulance. Okay, we are at 9:30. Commissioner, we need to order what? I'm just trained to do it. Well, um, welcome to the January 27th board finance meeting. I'm calling the meeting to order. The first item is reorganization. So, I nominate Barbara. Second. Okay, we have a motion in a second to nominate her present. All in favor say I. I. Okay. Approval and investment policy. This is

this is the policy has been padded for multiple years. It's just standard boiler plate. It allows us only for 2 years which is the statutory amount to lock in monies. Uh so it has nothing uh fancy or or extra in it. It's a bare bones policy. Staff any comments on Okay. Do we have a motion for approval?

So move second. We have a motion and a second for approval of the for county Indiana investment propos. All those in favor say I. I. Same sign. Motion carries. Preview of 2025 investments. Um okay. You have an investment report. Uh this shows uh various categories of funds that we have monies for uh in 2025. uh we collected for the general fund uh close to 5.3 million as you see there uh which is uh less than last year with the uh fed rate falling. Um the other funds are listed individually. receipts. I think some of you your bond funds and uh you'll notice that uh let's see the 24 bond uh we uh collected over $900,000 uh for that bond itself that had more money in it to begin with because it's the last it started off the highest balance because it's newer and so we were able to cut quite a bit of money in there. So grand total 7.1. You'll see that that's uh less than the 7.7 last year, but the uh Fed rate has fallen from 5.4 to 3.75. Um we have an ongoing arrangement with one of the banks. We get the Fed rate uh less 10 basis points and that has helped us achieve a solid rate going with these funds for the last two years. Um, we don't put all our money in one bank. We just split it out. So, we do have lower

rates that we get as well. Um, we didn't have major wind this year. Um, we one of our bigger banks where we traditionally had a ton of money uh would charge us inordinate fees and uh that lowered our interest rate in essence. And uh we mish plans to tried to get them to uh lower the fees. They would not. We talked about changing banks. I got my ducks in a row, said I had it scheduled. They backed down. They removed a uh ton of our fees and increased our interest rate.

How did Phil still jerk it? That's what it took to get their attention. How does Phil

It's the It's the accounts that we've had for decades and it was a lot of work on the auditor's office. to make the switch. Uh they were still wanting the stay at the same bank. We were not wanting to put and and it allows us to put monies in different banks which is one of the things we tried to do. We what we have done is move a large chunk of our monies to a local bank which uh we purposely park $50 million there to get this favorable rate. Can I just ask you um you know FDI insurance is 250,000. Is there any way that we can protect ourselves in the event of a bank failure?

We're protected by an Indiana statute. Uh they have a a separate um I forget the name of it. We're protected under Indiana statute, not under the federal. And that's from where you put monies in large amounts in a bank. So, I'll have to look up the name that I don't recall that off hand. Okay. Anything else? Any other businesses coming to the board? I don't see anybody who's paying attention to this meeting back there.

Sir, he's on his phone. Okay. Where are you? Thank you, Jenny.