Kosciusko County Superior Court Judge David Cates addresses the Kosciusko County Council Thursday night, May 10.

WARSAW — Kosciusko County’s Superior Court Judge David Cates led off the monthly meeting of the Kosciusko County Council Thursday night, May 10, by asking the panel to rubber stamp a program he explained in detail a month earlier.

“I was here last month and presented in regards to JDAI [Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative] and I promised you that I would do this, ditto,” he said. “The numbers on your desk are correct and I would ask for your approval.”

In April, Cates explained to the panel that county officials involved in criminal justice were seeking to implement the plan designed to help juveniles in trouble countywide.

Earlier in the year, Cates said the State of Indiana had initially approved a grant for $55,000 effective July 1. However, the judge told the council at last month’s meeting that data needed to be collected before the grant could get the nod locally.

The council approved the program, which included a salary ordinance connected to Probation Department personnel and the itemized additions related to the program totaling the $55,000 of the grant.

The board, absent council member Ernie Wiggins, voted unanimously to approve the program. Cates told the board the primary coordinator had not yet been named. “We are still working on that,” Cates said.

In other business, the council:

• Heard an extensive report on activities with the county’s Purdue Extension office from extension personnel Jenny Nelson, president of the extension board, Jackie Franks and Mindy Wise, extension educators and Kelly Heckaman, director. The four presented the council with updates on numerous extension activities.
• Approved fund transfers of $33,565.75, a salary ordinance amendment and additional appropriations of $20,000 for County Prosecutor Dan Hampton.
• Approved an additional appropriation for County Sheriff Deputy Rick Shepherd for Operation Pullover of $25,000.
• Approved an additional appropriation for County Sheriff Rocky Goshert of $2,972.94.
• Approved an additional appropriation for Highway Superintendent Scott Tilden for $1,195.55.
• Heard a report on construction progress at the County Highway Department by County Coordinator Marsha McSherry.