LaPorte County Board of Commissioners October 7, 2026

The LaPorte County Board of Commissioners’ October 7, 2026 meeting approved payroll claims totaling $3,582,746 and operating expense claims of $2,737,715.62, which included insurance payments and road work. Commissioners also approved a dental and vision plan renewal after the broker solicited 14 carriers; the plans were expected to save about $1,500 annually on dental and $4,000 on vision, with slightly lower employee contributions. A single $16,625 bid from DA/OJS Building Services for a building automation system retrofit and upgrade was opened and found timely. The board discussed reviewing the bid for completeness and legal review before deciding; no award is recorded in the transcript. A Lilly grant of $1 million for juvenile service center facilities was also mentioned, with possible use for related facility needs to be assessed.

Commissioners authorized EMS to seek a $75,000 additional appropriation from the County Council for fuel, oxygen delivery surcharges, and ambulance supplies. The auditor announced a forthcoming council hearing on a proposed local income tax modification for EMS and the 2027 county and solid waste budgets, noting tax revenue could help free general-fund money for major courthouse and Michigan City Bridge repairs; the county was not yet able to bond for those projects because its credit rating had not been restored. The meeting also covered storm-recovery work and potential state and United Way grant support, approved temporary road closures for filming, and gave first-reading approval to an ordinance changing the speed limit on part of County Road 400 North.