The Dubois County Board of Commissioners met on Monday morning to address a variety of county matters, including preservation of local history, contract renewals, and updates on ongoing projects. The Commissioners held an in-depth discussion about the potential for scanning old county records, some dating back to the early 1900s. Although many of these records are no longer useful, the board considered digitizing them to preserve their historical value. Commissioner Hostetter suggested setting a budget to scan as many records as possible, while County Highway Superintendent Steve Berg noted that these documents could hold significant historical importance for some individuals. However, the board has not yet made a final decision on this project.
Additionally, the Commissioners reviewed the Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Grant progress. Jenny Matheis from the Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission provided updates on the opening of bids for residential repair projects under the grant, noting that many projects, especially roof replacements, may need to wait until spring due to weather constraints. Despite the volume of work, over 25% of the approved projects have yet to receive bids, with contractors stating the scope of the work as a factor. Work will begin as bids are awarded.
Contract renewals were a key focus of the meeting, including the approval of the county’s Amazon Prime membership. The board discussed the benefits of Amazon’s pricing and convenience, but Commissioner Hostetter expressed concerns about the potential impact on local businesses. He suggested that department heads should prioritize purchasing from local vendors whenever possible to help sustain the community’s economy. The discussion also touched on the board’s interest in exploring alternatives for certain purchases.
During the meeting, the board addressed several other matters, including the extension of a service agreement with Purdue University and the renewal of the county’s IT service contract with Matrix, which will be extended for another three years. Additionally, COBRA health insurance rates for separated employees were approved, and the Life Springs insurance agreement was taken under advisement.
The Commissioners also heard from Craig Stotman regarding his tort claim against the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department. Stotman stated that cash had been improperly retained following a traffic stop, and his insurance claim had been denied twice. The board acknowledged the importance of transparency and maintaining an open forum for citizens’ concerns, though no ruling on the claim was made.
In another update, Chief Deputy Jesus Monarrez from the Dubois County Sheriff’s Office reported the department did not receive anticipated grant funds for staffing. He requested funding for several unfilled positions, including deputies and detectives, as well as approval for two new positions. The board requested further details before moving forward with additional hires.
For more details on these discussions and other county updates, visit duboiscountyin.org/government. You can rewatch the live stream from Monday’s meeting on Youtube by visiting the Dubois County Government Facebook page.
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