By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Thursday, January 29, 2026, to discuss County Sheriff Union Negotiations and held the first bid opening of the year.
The meeting opened with a work session at 8:00 a.m. with County Administrator Vond Hall to review the county’s budget. All commissioners were present for the meeting, including: President Scott Lirot, Bart Westfall, and Terry Rummel.
The regular meeting followed at 9:00 a.m. with the call to order, the Pledge of Allegiance, and roll call. Commissioners then approved minutes from the January 27, 2026 meeting and amended the agenda to include an executive session.
During new business, commissioners approved appropriation transfers for county departments.
A contract between the Williams County EMS and EMS DEV Solutions was entered into for the purpose of app access.
The mobile application is designed for EMS to access department-specific protocols, drug references, and operating guidelines while potentially being offline. A cost not to exceed $2,750.00 a year, which includes the setup fee. A three-year term was approved.
An executive session was entered at 9:08 a.m. to discuss contract negotiations with Sheriff Deputy Ben Baldwin. The commissioners returned at 9:52 a.m. with action and approved the Sheriff Union Negotiations.
The contract was noted to be between the Williams County Sheriff’s Office and the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA). The specifics of the negotiations were not discussed during the open session.
At 10:00 a.m., the first county bid opening of the year was held for Asphalt Emulsion. Campbell Higbie from Asphalt Materials and K-Tech Specialty Coatings each submitted a bid.
The bids included a bond with no addenda and included at least two out of three of the requested projects. The Williams County Engineer will make his final decision soon based on the total project costs and services offered.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:15 a.m. The next commissioner meeting will be held February 3, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Session Room.