Commissioners approve contracts, pay applications and appointments in March 10 meeting

At the March 10 meeting the board handled a set of routine but substantive administrative matters. The consent agenda — payroll, claims and minutes — was approved by voice vote. Commissioners approved multiple construction pay applications for jail and highway projects, a series of engineering agreements and amendments (including design professional services not to exceed $350,500 for a Calumet Avenue/CSX River bridge rehabilitation), and an on‑call engineering agreement not to exceed $100,000 for surveying and coring needs.

Personnel and contracting: commissioners confirmed Phil Kabaki as permanent facilities director after an interim assignment, and approved a grant writing services agreement for 2026 with Danielle Harrell not to exceed $21,000; the grant writer reported roughly $1.3 million in successful grants brought in during earlier years and identified pending applications that could yield additional awards. The board moved and approved each item by voice vote.

What to expect: the highway and construction pay applications will be processed per standard county procedures and engineering contracts will proceed under the terms presented. The grant writer will provide quarterly reports to commissioners as requested.