Blackford County Approves Consulting Contract, Joins New Opioid Settlement, Funds Hometown Days Festival

From the Blackford County Commissioners meetings on April 6 and April 20, 2026, and County Council meeting on April 8, 2026

Blackford County commissioners and council took several financial and administrative actions across their April meetings.

Commissioners approved a 3-year contract with DASA Consulting at $13,500 — a savings of $1,500 compared to annual renewals at $5,000 per year — for professional consulting on Title IV-D child support collections. The firm recovered $18,633 for the county last year and $21,028 the year before.

Commissioners also approved participation in a new opioid settlement litigation (Ball #2804), separate from the county's existing settlement, pending attorney review. This opens the county to future settlement funds.

The council approved the use of leftover security funds (over $25,000 available) to purchase protective vests for probation officers conducting home visits. Judge Body presented the request, noting probation officers are the first to approach residents during compliance checks.

Commissioners approved $2,500 for the first-year Hartford City/Blackford County Hometown Days Festival during the week of June 22, which will feature a full carnival in partnership with the 4-H Fair.

The council also approved a transfer of approximately $31,000 related to a pipe rupture outside the prosecutor's office that caused flooding. The county's March 2026 financial snapshot showed an ending cash balance of $2,569,210.48, with total expenditures of $774,366.62 and total revenue of $22,365.45.

Source: Video transcripts — Commissioner Meeting 2026-04-06, County Council 2026-04-08, Commissioner Meeting 2026-04-20