Cardinal Services CEO Randy Hall and Cardinal Services board member Penny Brown attended the August 8 Kosciusko County commissioners meeting.

WARSAW —  Cardinal Services CEO Randy Hall attended the Kosciusko County commissioners meeting on Tuesday, August 8, to discuss the struggles that Cardinal is currently facing, including a high employee turnover due to low wages, funding cuts and being short-staffed.

Cardinal Services, Warsaw, is a nonprofit organization that serves people with disabilities. Their services include day services, residential group home living and community apartment living.

According to Hall, employees known as direct support professionals, or DSPs, are vital to Cardinal Services. Unfortunately, Hall stated, the starting wage for a DSP at Cardinal is $9.35, a wage that has resulted in many employees leaving the organization. The DSPs are heavily involved with their clients, assisting them with basic needs and helping them to become more socially involved in the community.

“We had 500 employees one year ago,” said Hall, “We now have a staff of 470.”

According to Hall, Cardinal Services has been forced to cut back on some services.

“There are people that want our services, but we are turning families away because we cannot ensure that we will be able to provide services for them – we don’t know if we will have staff to meet their needs,” said Hall.

Cardinal Services board member Penny Brown said her brother, Mark, who is almost 60 years old, will never be able to live on his own. Brown said Cardinal Services has been there for Mark since he was 6 years old. Brown expressed concern and frustration with the low wages and high turnover rate for DSPs at Cardinal Services, stating that many Cardinal staff members love their jobs there but end up leaving because they can earn higher wages working in a factory or fast food establishment.

Hall said the prognosis for the next 20 years is even worse. Kosciusko commissioner Ron Truex stated that this is a process and needs to be discussed in further detail.

“We know it’s an issue,” said Truex, “We’re just trying to figure out how best to address it.”

Kosciusko County Emergency Management Director Ed Rock gave the commissioners notice of two reimbursable grant funding opportunities. Rock requested permission to apply for the grants. Truex made a motion to submit the letters of intent before the deadline, with the understanding that the commissioners will review the grants further before making a final decision related to pursuing the grants. This motion was approved.

The commissioners opened three sealed bids for a dump body hoist front plow for the F550 vehicle that was purchased for the county. Bids were received from Terry Truck Equipment, Winamac, in the amount of $31,550, W.A. Jones Truck Bodies Equipment, Columbia City, in the amount of $31,982 and Lindco, Merrillville, in the amount of $33,577. Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent Scott Tilden requested that he be allowed to review the quotes and return with his recommendation at the next meeting. The commissioners approved this request.

In other news:

• The next regular meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, August 22.
• Matt Bowen attended the meeting to announce that KABS has hired a new general manager, Amanda Landis, who was introduced to the commissioners.