Commissioners Approve Prosecutor Grant
WARSAW — Robert Bishop with the Child Support division of the Prosecutor’s Office advised the board to accept an application for a prosecutor grant worth $25,000.
Bishop first presented the grant at the Oct. 13, Kosciusko County Council meeting. He advised that it is a technical fix to a state computer problem. When special prosecutors are assigned to cases they need someone to do the computer work for them. Bishop is wanting to apply for Kosciusko to be assigned this work for the northern Indiana counties.
Being a paperless office with a high use of electronic tool, Bishop feels Kosciusko has an advantage in their application. “We have a leg up. We’ve already had another major county say, ‘If you’re going to apply, we’re not going to apply.'”
The $25,000 grant is awarded from the Prosecuting Attorney Council to aid in the hire of an additional employee to help manage the extra work load, but Bishop has no plans of hiring. By taking on the responsibility the department will only see an estimated 20-40 new cases, very little work considering the department is currently handling roughly 3,100 cases.
“It doesn’t require a whole lot of extra work for us and it allows us to make some money for the county,” stated Bishop.
Bishop clarified that no legal work would go into the extra cases, merely computer work, and advised that his office has the upmost efficiency.
“We’re pretty excited for this opportunity,” said Bishop.
The Commissioners had concerns about the length of the contract and the potential for it to fall onto taxpayers when the grant runs out. Bishop advised that the contract is only year to year, and once the money runs out the program stops.
The Board approved for Bishop to apply for the grant.
Other business:
- Ann Torpy was present for the approval of a Lake City Contract that allows the Clerk’s Office to do electronic transfers between the Clerk’s Trust account and the State Auditors Office.
- Michelle Puckett advised a letter was received from Nappanee Public Library seeking the appointment of Donald Aleo. The Board approved.
- The Board approved CSI yearly software maintenance and the approval to purchase a book scanner for the Recorder’s Office presented by Joetta Mitchell.
- The Board approved Tony Ciriello’s request for permission to purchase a new vehicle for the Coroner’s Office using $35,000 provided by Council in the annual budget. Lowest bid went to Kerlin.
- The Board approved yearly inter-local agreement for terminal services data.
- The Highway Department office complex is in need of an improved space. Ron Robinson proposed using left-over money from this year to start the project. Robinson specified this will not use any money from the Wheel Tax. The Board accepted a motion to continue as planned.
- Transportation General Manager Robert Cunningham presented a revision to the 5311 grant contract that is $300 less than the previously proposed KABS budget. The Board approved.