ELKHART — The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 3 approved the county’s 2026 meeting schedule, authorized additional appropriations for core financial software and a three‑year security log‑management renewal, accepted multiple procurement bids for review and approved a $39,000 tree‑clearing contract, officials said at the meeting.

County administrator Jeff Taylor presented the calendar for 2026, telling commissioners it accounts for holidays and will be posted once adopted. “On your adoption of that, we will post it on the website and disperse it to the entities that have requested it,” he said. Commissioners also noted the board expects to move regular meetings to the historic courthouse early next year and said notices will be updated when that occurs.

Buildings and grounds opened bids to replace two rooftop HVAC units on the sheriff’s office. Joe Lightman read three bids: Dodd (Trane option $230,208; Carrier option $251,324), Core Mechanical ($215,002) and Griffin Plumbing and Heating ($232,400). Lightman said staff will review the submissions and return with a recommendation. Commissioners voted to accept the bids for staff review.

Kyle Wagner of the highways/engineering staff said seven bids were received for a Phase 1B tree‑clearing project and that engineering recommends awarding the work to BAM Tree Service for $39,000. The board approved the award.

On budgeting, Taylor said the county council did not approve a planned software and hardware package for 2025 and asked departments to request needed funds as additional appropriations. He said Lau, the county’s financial software, requires a $101,055 appropriation and that the county must also renew a security log‑management contract for $205,380 covering three years. “This is a 3 year renewal. This is not a 1 year, a 3 year,” Taylor said. Commissioners approved the appropriations.

The board also affirmed town ordinances adopting amendments to the Elkhart County Development Ordinance for the towns of Wakarusa, Middlebury, Millersburg and Bristol; county staff said these mirror amendments the board previously approved in April and that the towns reviewed and signed off on the changes.

The board approved out‑of‑state travel for three sheriff’s officers — Lieutenant Jeremy Overmyer, Officer Robert Parra and Officer Kenneth Lambert — to travel to Oklahoma City to extradite two prisoners.

All motions described above carried unanimously.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of October minutes and allowance of claims: approved (carried unanimously).
- Acceptance of rooftop HVAC bids for staff review: approved (carried unanimously).
- Award to BAM Tree Service for Phase 1B tree‑clearing, $39,000: approved (carried unanimously).
- Adoption of 2026 meeting schedule: approved (carried unanimously).
- Affirmation of town ordinances amending Elkhart County Development Ordinance (Wakarusa, Middlebury, Millersburg, Bristol): approved (each carried unanimously).
- Additional appropriation for financial software Lau, $101,055, and security log management renewal, $205,380 (3‑year): approved (carried unanimously).
- Out‑of‑state travel for extradition (Lieut. Jeremy Overmyer, Officers Robert Parra and Kenneth Lambert): approved (carried unanimously).

The board ended the meeting after public comment and adjourned.