COLUMBUS, Ind.–At its Monday meeting, the Bartholomew County Council heard from Jason Semler of H.J. Umbaugh and Associates regarding bond options for funding the new county highway garage. The council had previously voted on a bond amount not to exceed $6 million.
The Umbaugh firm is advising the county on the best way to finance the garage construction. The bond money would be put into a newly created fund from which vendors associated with the project would be paid.
Last evening’s deliberations centered on whether a 15-year bond that could be paid off in eight years penalty-free was the optimal way to proceed. Lower bond amounts and different time frames were discussed. On the subject of bond amounts, council president Mark Gorbett said, “I want to go with six million. It gives us more options. The county will have other costs over the next few years.”
