The Daviess County Commissioners held their last meeting of 2025 Tuesday morning and took care of some end-of-the-year business. Highway Superintendent Chris Winkler opened bids for the rebuild of county bridge 176 on CR 700 N. The bridge is currently a one-lane railroad car bridge, and the county is planning on improving the outdated structure due to increased traffic flow in the area. The bids were taken under advisement, and a decision will be made in January. The Commissioners also approved a request from the Health Department to lower administrative fees from $40 to $30.
Looking at a large disparity in funding available to the county’s several fire departments, the commissioners agreed to an agreement with Baker Tilly to do a county-wide financial analysis of potential funding sources. Commissioners President Nathan Gabhart said that some county directors’ departments were very well funded and had up-to-date equipment, but that other departments were underfunded with out-of-date equipment. The study will help determine how to provide the best fire service possible in all areas of the county.
In other business contracts were approved with the Tourism Commission, CSI for 2026 services in the Recorder’s office, Purdue Extension, and Grant Swartzentruber for legal services, and they approved a contract for County EMS services.
The Commissioners also made several appointments: Kristin Miles to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission; Phil Flint and Tom Nugent to the APC; Brandee Downs to the Community Corrections Advisory Board; Travis Schaffer and Phillip Jolliff to the County Board of Zoning Appeals; Chris Palmer as Daviess County Historian; Alan Goodwin to the Hospital Association; Abby Brown to the Longevity Pay Plan Committee; Phil Cornelius to the Daviess County Park Board-West Boggs; Jen Welsh to SIDC; Zach Graber, Marilyn McCullough, and Debbie Goodwin to the Visitors Bureau; Jeremy Tooley to the Washington Board of Zoning Appeals; and Audra O’Neil and Darin Holder to the WestGate at Crane Authority. The next Commissioners’ meeting is scheduled for January 13.
