The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 18 approved a range of administrative items, including a property purchase to support a railroad crossing elimination project, ratification of utility-exception letters for two road projects, approval to apply for a federal hazardous-materials emergency-preparedness grant, and several vendor contracts and bid actions.

Terry O’Brien, economic development planner, asked the board to approve resolution R-20-C-2025 to authorize a purchase agreement for property at 320 Lincoln Way East in Osceola. Staff said the purchase price is the average of two appraisals at $604,000 and noted the redevelopment commission previously approved funds for the acquisition. The board voted to approve the resolution.

IPG staff presented ratification letters required for federal-aid projects: a utility-exception request for the Pierce Road reconstruction (DES 1702832) and a similar ratification for Douglas Road at the Bittersweet Roundabout (DES 21000024). Staff explained these letters acknowledge the county may be financially responsible if utility relocations delay federal-aid projects; the board ratified both letters.

Al Kersitz, director of the county EMA, described a federal 2026 hazardous-materials emergency-preparedness grant administered by Indiana Department of Homeland Security and said the grant carries no local match. Kersitz cited a major August hazmat incident that tested regional response and said the county previously graduated 21 hazmat technicians; the board approved submitting the application.

Sal Parisi of the county 9-1-1 center requested preapproval of a Premier 1 hardware refresh and maintenance agreement with Motorola Solutions to replace CAD servers at the main and backup dispatch centers. Parisi said early approval secures pricing and discounts (he cited roughly $250,000 in savings through negotiated credits) and that Motorola will not bill the county until after Jan. 1, 2026. Commissioners approved the agreement.

Other items approved included a service contract for the CASA program with Brenda Matthew Skavich (limited to about 8 hours per week, expected through next year), authorization to advertise the 2026 annual highway materials bid (advertisements Nov. 21 and Nov. 28, openings Dec. 9), and renewal of the CSAP laboratory contract with Evoqua for analyzer water-filtration equipment (presiding official noted a 6.9% increase and a total listed as $7,577,557.48 in the meeting record). All items were moved, seconded and recorded as approved in the meeting transcript.

Votes at a glance (as recorded):
- Resolution R-20-C-2025 (purchase, 320 Lincoln Way E): Aye votes recorded and motion carries.
- Utility exception ratifications (DES 1702832 and DES 21000024): Aye votes recorded and motions carry.
- Hazmat grant application: Aye votes recorded and motion carries.
- Motorola Premier 1 hardware agreement: Aye votes recorded and motion carries.
- CASA service contract (Brenda M. Skavich): Aye votes recorded and motion carries.
- Authorization to advertise highway materials bids: Aye votes recorded and motion carries.
- CSAP/Evoqua contract renewal: Aye votes recorded and motion carries.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with the property purchase process, submit the hazmat grant application, proceed with Motorola procurement as scheduled, advertise and later open the highway materials bids, and execute the listed service and renewal contracts.