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Hancock County Board of Commissioners
Regularly Scheduled Meeting
March 31st, 2026
Commissioner President McDaniel called to order the March 31st, 2026, Hancock County
Commissioners Board meeting at 8:00AM. Those present were Board of Commissioners, Gary
McDaniel, Jeannine Gray, Bill Spalding, Auditor Debra Carnes, Executive Liaison Sara
Hilderbrand, and County Attorney Scott Benkie.
Audio and video recording statement.
President Spalding opened the meeting with the “Pledge of Allegiance”.
Commissioner Gray motioned to approve meeting minutes for 3/16/2026 as presented.
Commissioner McDaniel seconded. Motion carried 2-0. Commissioner Spalding abstained.
Mt. Comfort Cemetery
Buck Creek Trustee, Micki Simunek, states Mt. Comfort Church has run out of money in their trust
to care for the cemetery next to the church. Buck Creek Township will now maintain the cemetery
if that is what the Board of Commissioners decide, but they may need help with funds this year if
emergencies arise like a downed tree, fence work, or stonework. A discussion was had; no decisions
were made during this meeting.
Highway
Gary Pool presented the following updates:
• Shirley Trail Construction, NineStar Park Gates
• Fatality on 300N
• Community Corrections (Old Jail) to be completed in April
• Bridge #67- tree clearing underway
• DNR Parks Grant was awarded to Hancock County ($376,496)
• Survey at 200W interchange started, still a large pile of debris on heritage group site
• TIF work with Lisa Lee
Facility
Commissioner Gray motioned to approve Change Order #4 from Envoy for the Community
Corrections Renovation Project in the amount NTE $8,848.47 to be paid for out of the 2021 GO
Bond. Commissioner Spalding seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner Gray motioned to approve the estimate from Tman’s Overhead Doors for overhead
doors at the Quonset Hut in the amount NTE $2,960 to be paid for out of the Facility Management’s
CCD. Commissioner Spalding seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner Gray motioned to approve the estimate from Electrical Solutions Service, LLC to
establish new 200A overhead service to the Quonset Hut in the amount NTE $8,595.50 to be paid
for out of the Facility Management’s CCD. Commissioner Spalding seconded. Motion carried 3-
0.

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Commissioner Gray motioned to approve the estimate from Utility Associates, Inc. for the
Prosecutor’s Office for the TITAN Interview Room Bundle with the total amount NTE $76,302,
and the amount of $30,520.80 due upon signature to be paid for out of the 2022B GO Bond. The
Board of Commissioners would like the Prosecutor’s Office to come back each year to authorize
the yearly cost going forward.
Commissioner Gray motioned to accept the proposal from PDF Mechanical, LLC for server room
mini split at the Purdue Extension Office in the amount NTE $14,798.08 to be paid for out of
Facility Management’s CCD. Commissioner Spalding seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner Gray motioned to accept the invoice from Electrical Solutions Service, LLC to
install new data cabling at the Purdue Extension Building in the amount NTE $11,015 to be paid
for out of Facility Management’s CCD. Commissioner Spalding seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
The architectural drawings for the Courthouse elevator have been submitted to the State of Indiana
for approval.
Prosecutor’s Office- Bid Opening
Only one bid was received for the Prosecutor’s Efficiency Study.
Commissioner Gray motioned to accept the bid from Prosecutors’ Center for Excellence for review
and consideration. Commissioner Spalding seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Planning/Building
Planning Director, Kayla Brooks and Head Building Inspector, Scott Williams presented the
Hancock County Planning and Building Department’s 2025 Annual Report.
Kayla presented an update on Hancock County’s UDO “Light” Reformatting and Adoption Support
Proposal. Kayla will bring the revised contract with HWC Engineering to the April 7th Board of
Commissioners meeting.
Kayla asked the Board of Commissioners to consider an Amendment to the Land Use Matrix
concerning Riding Stables. The Board of Commissioners asked her to take it to the Planning
Commission first for their input/vote.
Hancock County 4-H and Ag. Association
Vice President, Debbie Vansickle updated the Commissioners on the improvements completed at
the county fairgrounds with the $1.5 million forgivable loan received in 2025 and the $500,000
forgivable loan received in February of 2026.
E911
911 Director, John Jokantas presented Hancock County and Crosswalk Health to the Board of
Commissioners. A discussion was had; no decisions were made during this meeting.
Commissioner Gray motioned to approve the out of state travel requests for John Jokantas and
David Perry to attend the 2026 Navigator Conference in Las Vegas, NV on 4/21/2026 through
4/22/2026. Commissioner Spalding seconded. Motion carried 3-0.

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Commissioner Gray motioned to approve the out of state travel requests for Jonathan Bullman,
John Jokantas, Rebecca Payne, Greg Shamblin, and Bridget Truelove to attend the 2026 National
NENE Conference in Columbus, OH on 6/27/2026 through 7/2/2026. Commissioner Spalding
seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner Gray motioned to approve the quote from Force Technology Solutions, LLC for a
Mobile Video Kit in the amount NTE $3,135.36 to be paid for out of the 2022A GO Bond.
Commissioner Spalding seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
RJL Solutions
Johnathan Blake, VP of Economic & Community Development for RJL Solutions, presented their
Firm Overview.
Commissioners’ Business
Commissioner Gray motioned to approve claims and payroll as presented. Commissioner Spalding
seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Board of Commissioners recessed at 9:50 AM.
Water & Sewer District Board called to order at 10:01 AM.
Water & Sewer District Board adjourned at 10:06 AM.
Board of Commissioner called back to order at 10:06 AM.
Sheriff
Commissioner Gray motioned to approve the out of state travel request for Ryan Kalk to attend
HITS K9 Training and Consulting in Phoenix, AZ on 8/23/2026 through 8/28/2026. Commissioner
Spalding seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Auditor’s Business
Commissioner Gray motioned to allow Gary McDaniel to sign off on the Amplify Partnership
Agreements once received, and a review is completed by legal. Commissioner Spalding seconded.
Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioners’ Business Cont.
Commissioner Gray motioned to approve the out of state travel for Lais McCartney to attend the
Purdue Extension EXPAND Conference in Madison, WI on 9/28/2026 through 10/2/2026. Bill
seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner Gray motioned to release the bond from Ryan Homes, Inc. ILO NVR, Inc. in the
amount NTE $96,000 on Noelting Estates Sec. 1 and 2- sidewalks and driveways. Commissioner
Spalding seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner Gray motioned to reappoint Jennie Shivley to the Parks and Recreation Board for a
4-year term ending in 2029. Commissioner Spalding seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner Gray motioned to accept the Executive Assurance Agreement from Gibson Teldata
for hardware and software in the amount NTE $15,558.60. Commissioner Spalding seconded.
Motion carried 3-0.

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Amplify
Commissioner Gray motioned to approve disbursement #23 in the amount NTE $1,270,046.97.
Commissioner Spalding seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner Gray motioned to approve Change Order #8 for the Amplify project in the amount
NTE $156,862. Commissioner Spalding seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner Gray motioned to approve the allocation form from RATIO on the Amplify
Hancock Innovation Center for the 179D Deduction for Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings.
Commissioner Spalding seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Public Comment
George Langston spoke about his concerns surrounding data centers and the water treatment plant
for Charlottesville.
Commissioner Gray motioned to adjourn until the next regularly scheduled meeting. Commissioner
Spalding seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
The Hancock County Board of Commissioners meeting adjourned at 10:39 AM.
___________________________________ ____________________________________
Commissioner Gary McDaniel, President Commissioner Jeannine Gray, Vice-President
___________________________________ Attest: _______________________________
Commissioner Bill Spalding Debra Carnes, Hancock County Auditor