WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Commissioner’s meeting was held at 9 a.m. Oct. 20. During the meeting, the commissioners dealt with a community corrections budget, the recent field fires and two area plans for Kosciusko County.

Barry Andrew, director of Community Corrections attended the meeting to propose the application and budget for the 2016 fiscal year. The budget was recently approved by the state, and Andrew was attending to answer any questions the commissioners had.

The application was for a home detention program, which would provide alternatives to imprisonment not currently offered in the county. The total cost of the budget, which would cover three full-time positions, insurance, computers, copiers and the prison alternative, is $237,033 for the 2016 fiscal year.

Andrew said that next January, he will come before the board again to apply for the 2017 fiscal year, which will be $356,000. The budget planned for the rest of this year runs through June, and since it is only two-thirds of a year, it is smaller.

The full-time jobs available would be a full-time secretary, home detention officer and coordinator.

The money for the program comes from an advance grant by the state, and is “meant to keep people out of jail … and has proven to be effective in places all around Indiana,” Andrew said.

The commissioners asked Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine if there was any duplication happening, and he ensured the council that nothing like this program is currently happening.

The council approved and signed the documents brought forth by Andrew.

In other business,

• Robert Weaver from the Kosciusko County Health Department brought a document from IDEM about a burn ban, which the council discussed that they would review, but are hesitant to approve hastily. Commissioner Bob Conley made sure to note that “people should be extremely cautious over the next few days.” The fire departments have been called numerous times to field fires, and many in the county have requested a burn ban to prevent more from happening.
• Ron Robinson, county administrator, brought forth the 2016 Inter-local Agreement for Terminal Services Data, which was approved by the council. The agreement ensures reimbursement to the county for terminal services.
• The commissioners approved the vacation of two lots, Laura Ann Martin and Thomas Eubank. Eubank was brought before the Kosciusko County Council last month, and this was a continuation of that vacation. Martin, a plat in Wawasee, is a cleanup situation the commissioners are seeking to resolve.

The next Kosciukso County Commissioners meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2.