Commissioners discuss taking steps to strengthen veterans service officer position

With more than a dozen applications since posting the open position for Veterans Service Officer, the commissioners are working with local veterans to help fill this important position.

“I want to get it right this time,” Commissioner Chad Blessinger said during Monday’s meeting. “We’ve had five or six veteran service officers since COVID. I want to do whatever it takes to get some continuity to improve services there.”

The office has continued operating without interruption despite losing its veteran service officer two weeks ago. Five local veterans stepped forward to volunteer their time and expertise, keeping services running smoothly.

The volunteers work alongside county employee Maria Snyder, providing experienced assistance to veterans filing claims and accessing benefits. Regional representative Kevin Hinton also fills shifts to ensure the office remains fully staffed during regular hours.

“I’m full of gratitude to those who have stepped up,” Blessinger said. “We’ve not had a moment of interrupted service there. I would even argue that we’ve had more attention, more staff, more going on in there than we maybe ever had.”

“I don’t want volunteers running a county office,” Blessinger explained, noting the importance of maintaining county oversight while utilizing the volunteers’ expertise.

The volunteers signed agreements clarifying their non-employee status while Snyder oversees daily operations.

Commissioners plan to conduct preliminary phone interviews mid-week before scheduling in-person interviews with top candidates. At least two of the volunteering veterans will participate in the interview process to help evaluate candidates’ technical knowledge and experience.

The volunteers have indicated they will continue serving until the county hires a permanent replacement.

According to data presented at the meeting, Dubois County has 2,186 veterans in 2024, down from 2,481 in 2016. However, total direct and indirect expenditures for veteran benefits reached $23,613,890 in 2026, including disability payments, pensions and medical services.

“These aren’t handouts,” Blessinger noted. “These are things that are earned.”

These funds also impact the local economy. Indirect benefits are used for medical services for these veterans, while direct benefits are used to purchase goods, homes and other necessary items.

Highway Department Updates and Equipment Replacement

Donnie Lueken from the Dubois County Highway Department reported that the part-time mower position is filled for the upcoming season, with mowing operations scheduled to begin on April 6, 2026, the day after Easter. The department is moving forward with replacing its wheeled excavator after receiving pricing from Caterpillar. The new equipment is on the approved equipment list, though prices have increased since the last purchase. The commissioners provide consent to proceed with the order. Regarding the Holland trash/recycling site, Lueken has measured a potential location near the lagoons at Prairie Farms, finding it suitable at approximately a quarter acre. The site would require fencing and gates on both ends, with vehicles entering from one end and exiting from the other. The department plans to present a formal site plan at the March 16, 2026 meeting. This location is being considered after numerous attempts to secure alternative land proved unsuccessful, with multiple property owners declining to sell to the county.

Federal Bridge Safety Grant Award

Levi Leffert, County Engineer, announced significant news regarding federal funding. Dubois County has been awarded $2,835,000 from INDOT, covering approximately 90% of construction and inspection costs for a project to improve safety on approximately 60 county-owned bridges. The project includes the installation of bridge rail guardrail and end treatments to prevent vehicle run-offs. As a condition of the award, the county must be under contract with a consultant for design services by August 1, 2026. The county will issue a Request for Proposals through INDOT’s website for interested consultants. Once a consultant is selected, the county will receive an additional $954,000 to cover 90% of design costs, bringing total federal funding to $3,789,000. This represents the first federal funding the county has received in many years and will significantly improve safety for both local residents and visitors traveling through Dubois County.

Frontier Communications Fiber Optic Project

Leffert provided a heads-up that Frontier Communications is beginning a large-scale fiber-optic cable build-out around the Jasper area and along county roads. The project involves several miles of cable installation and represents Frontier’s largest build-out in this area. Leffert has been receiving dozens of permits for review and approval. A meeting with Frontier is scheduled to discuss permit requirements, expectations, project schedule, and road bonding. The public should expect to see significant fiber line installation work in the upcoming weeks and months. If residents observe immediate safety concerns while contractors are working, they should contact the highway department so issues can be addressed with Frontier’s contractor. The project will utilize various county roads, and the department is working to ensure proper coordination and safety measures are in place throughout the construction period.

Vialytics Road Management System Presentation

A representative with Vialytics presented an automated road assessment and asset management system to the commissioners. The system uses iPhones mounted on highway vehicles to automatically photograph roads every 10 feet while driving. AI analysis identifies surface-level pavement distress, damaged street signs, storm drains, and lane markings. Unlike traditional manual assessments or one-time contracted evaluations, Vialytics offers unlimited data collection, allowing counties to conduct assessments twice yearly or more frequently. The system provides a web-based platform showing Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating (PASER), historical data, and street-view imagery. Users can filter by damage type, create work orders, and track maintenance activities. The annual cost is approximately $30,000 for 425 lane miles, two phones, and 30 user accounts. Leffert emphasized the system would consolidate currently scattered processes, improve efficiency, provide accountability, and offer valuable documentation for construction projects and road use agreements. The commissioners requested the company’s required contract language be added before making a final decision, with plans to reconvene after reviewing pricing and contract terms.

Northview Estates Subdivision Paving Request

Matt Werner, a resident from the Northview Estates subdivision, presented a petition signed by all 34 homeowners requesting that the county pave their roads. The subdivision, developed 19 years ago, currently has chip seal surfaces installed by the developer. Residents were told the roads would eventually be paved once enough homes were built. The subdivision is nearly complete, with only four vacant lots remaining. Werner presented research on potential funding mechanisms, including the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program and the Local Option Highway User Tax. County Highway Superintendent Donnie Lueken acknowledged the subdivision is on the county’s radar for future paving, but explained the roads currently have a PASER rating of six, which doesn’t prioritize them over roads in worse condition rated four or five. Also, the county wants to ensure the base is properly settled before applying expensive asphalt surfaces. The commissioners indicated paving could occur in approximately two to three years, depending on available funding and other road priorities. They also told Werner that if homeowners collectively contribute toward material costs, the project could be expedited, similar to the county’s rock-to-chip-seal upgrade program.