Document Center / July 21, 2025, County Council Minutes / Huntington, Indiana

The Huntington County Council met in regular session on the 21st day of July 2025, in the GAR. Room, at the Huntington County Courthouse, Huntington, Indiana, at 7:00 P.M. for considering all business brought before it pursuant to notice given to the Plain Dealer on July 9, 2025. Council Members Present: Kendall Mickley, Terry Miller, Shane Bickel, Jamie Hotchkiss, John Stoeckley and Brian Warpup. Keith Eller was absent. Council President Kendall Mickley called the meeting to order. Jamie Hotchkiss gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Agenda / Action Items

Items 1 & 2 — Public Hearing / Warren Public Library

The Public Hearing was opened and community member Hank Miller addressed the Council with his concerns.

The Warren Public Library Director, Robert Neuenschwander, appeared as the binding authority for the Library and requested approval of an Additional Appropriation of $86,000 to be used to help pay for a new elevator at the library. Mr. Neuenschwander showed pictures related to the project.

John Stoeckley made a motion to approve the Additional Appropriation. Terry Miller seconded. Motion passed 6–0.

Item 3 — Approval of Minutes

President Mickley asked for approval of the County Council minutes from the June 23, 2025 meeting.

Terry Miller made a motion to approve the minutes. Brian Warpup seconded. Motion passed 6–0.

Item 4 — Transfer of Appropriation (Superior Court)

Superior Court Judge Jennifer Newton requested a Transfer of Appropriation of $10,000.00 from the County General budget line 1000.11400.00000.0201 (Clerical) to 1000.31800.00000.0201 (Interpreter).

Terry Miller made a motion to approve the transfer. Shane Bickel seconded. Motion passed 6–0.

Item 5 — JCAP Budget Appropriation (Sheriff)

Sheriff Chris Newton requested a Budget Appropriation totaling $172,413.14 for the JCAP Fund. The requested budget lines and amounts are shown below.

JCAP Fund — Requested Budget Appropriation
Budget Line	Description	Amount (USD)
9237.11033.00000.0000	Jail Inmate Advocate	$46,456.96
9237.12100.00000.0000	Social Security	$3,403.88
9237.12200.00000.0000	Retirement	$6,318.32
9237.12300.00000.0000	Group Insurance	$11,438.96
9237.21500.00000.0000	Supplies	$74,990.08
9237.24500.00000.0000	Operating Supplies	$7,000.00
9237.31100.00000.0000	Contract Professional	$22,000.00
9237.34300.00000.0000	Workers Comp	$757.44
9237.34510.00000.0000	Unemployment	$47.50
Total		$172,413.14

Jamie Hotchkiss made a motion to approve the Budget Appropriation. Brian Warpup seconded. Motion passed 6–0.

Item 6 — Additional Appropriation (LIT Correctional Facility)

Sheriff Newton requested an Additional Appropriation totaling $201,904.43 in the LIT Correctional Facility Fund for budget line 1233.32019.00000.0380 — Jail Building Repairs.

Terry Miller made a motion to approve the Additional Appropriation. Shane Bickel seconded. Motion passed 6–0.

Item 7 — CCMG 2024-1 Budget Appropriation (Highway)

Highway Superintendent Bridgett Burkhart requested a Budget Appropriation of $1,012,366.38 for the CCMG 2024-1 — budget line 9144.36200.00000.0000 (Service Contracts).

Terry Miller made a motion to approve the Budget Appropriation. Brian Warpup seconded. Motion passed 6–0.

Item 8 — County General Fuel System Appropriation (Highway)

Bridgett Burkhart requested a Budget Appropriation of $960,000.00 for the County General Fuel System, broken down as:

County General Fuel System — Requested Appropriation
Budget Line	Description	Amount (USD)
1000.36200.00000.9676	Service Contracts	$450,000.00
1000.44100.00000.9676	Equipment	$510,000.00
Total		$960,000.00

Terry Miller made a motion to approve the Budget Appropriation. Brian Warpup seconded. Motion passed 6–0.

Item 9 — PSAP Fund Transfers (Dispatch)

Dispatch Director Tim Allen requested Transfers of Appropriation totaling $45,000.00 in the PSAP Fund 4020.

From

From (Total $45,000.00)
Budget Line	Description	Amount (USD)
4020.11625.00000.0000	Dispatcher	$45,000.00

To (Total $45,000.00)
Budget Line	Description	Amount (USD)
4020.12000.00000.0000	Overtime	$20,000.00
4020.11120.00000.0000	Part-time	$25,000.00

Brian Warpup made a motion to approve the transfers. John Stoeckley seconded. Motion passed 6–0.

Item 10 — Additional Appropriation (LIT Economic Development)

Commissioner President Rob Miller requested an Additional Appropriation of $200,000.00 for the LIT Economic Development budget line 1112.35400.00000.0000 — Project 4 (Discretionary).

Shane Bickel made a motion to approve the Additional Appropriation. Terry Miller seconded. Motion passed 6–0.

Items 11–14

Items 11, 12, 13, and 14 were tabled until the August meeting.

Item 15 — New / Old Business

President Mickley mentioned that the budget books have been printed and that the estimated amounts have not yet been released by the Department of Local Government Finance.

Item 16 — Reports & Organization of Council's Committees for 2025

Community Corrections Committee — Terry Miller & Brian Warpup: Community Corrections is crunching numbers and looking for grants.
Solid Waste — Brian Warpup: Discussion occurred about a separate facility; the idea was dismissed.
3-A Regional Development — John Stoeckley: Nothing to report.
Job Classification & Compensation Administration Committee — Keith Eller, John Stoeckley, & Brian Warpup: No meeting to report on.
Local Anti-Drug Coalition Effort (L.A.C.E.) / Early Intervention Team — Shane Bickel: No meeting in July; next meeting in August.
Lime City Development — Terry Miller: No meeting to report on.
Emergency Management — Keith Eller: Absent.
Plan Commission — Terry Miller: Approved change of zoning from Agriculture to General Business for a property on 900 North.
C.E.D.I.T. Advisory — Jamie Hotchkiss: No meeting to report on.
HCUED — Kendall Mickley: Nothing to report.
ABCD (Above & Beyond the Call of Duty) — Keith Eller: Absent.
Tax Abatement Review — John Stoeckley: No meeting to report on.
WHARMM — Jamie Hotchkiss: Meeting rescheduled for August 27.
Commissioners Health Insurance Advisory Committee — Keith Eller: Absent.
EMS Advisory Council — Jamie Hotchkiss: Next meeting will be August 14.
HCPSD Committee — Kendall Mickley: Tim Allen discussed during meeting.
Internal Controls Committee — Kendall Mickley & Jill Landrum: Nothing to report.
Redevelopment Commission (RDC) — Terry Miller & John Stoeckley: The Annual RDC Meeting was July 14, 2025.
Markle Economic Development Commission (EDC) — Brian Warpup: Nothing to report.

Item 17 — Adjournment

Brian Warpup made a motion to adjourn the meeting. John Stoeckley seconded. Motion passed 6–0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 P.M.

Regular Session of the County Council of Huntington County, Indiana

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Meeting minutes — July 21, 2025

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