Ed Rock, director of Kosciusko County Emergency Management, presents his grant requests.

KOSCIUSKO — The Kosciusko County Council meeting held on Thursday, Aug. 10, was business as usual. The main focus among various departments was applying for grants.

Kosciusko Sheriff Rocky Goshert requested permission to apply for two DNR grants. Both of the grants will be used for the annual lake patrols around the county. The first grant totals $12,5000 to cover salaries for the patrols and the second grant totals $2,500 to cover storage of the boats and jet skis.

These are annual grant that the Sheriff’s Department has used for many years. The council approved Goshert to apply for and use the grants.

Ed Rock, director of Kosciusko County Emergency Management, also had two grants he requested permission to apply for. Rock knows that the grants will go toward law enforcement funding, but will not know the exact purpose until the grants are received. The council approved Rock to apply for the two grants.

Cardinal Services CEO Randy Hall attended the meeting to discuss the struggles that Cardinal is currently facing, including a high employee turnover due to low wages, funding cuts and being short-staffed. Hall gave the same presentation during the last County Commissioner’s meeting.

The council agreed that Cardinal Services is facing a problem, but not sure what they can do or how quickly they can help. “It is an issue that needs addressed, I’m just not sure how to approach it,” said Jon Garber, council president.

Councilmember Joni Truex pointed out that Cardinal Services is not the only organization in the county to be experiencing a labor shortage.

In other news:

• The prosecution’s office was approved to transfer $1,500 from paralegal assistant fund to the part-time fund.
• A representative of Louis Dreyfus, Claypool, was present to request the council confirm the declaratory resolution for a tax abatement and waive the requirement for the filing date. The council approved.
• The council briefly reviewed the non-binding recommendation of taxing units. No discussion or actions were made besides clarifying that this is required by the state.
• Budget meetings will be held at 6 p.m. on Aug. 21 and 24.
• The next regular council meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Sept. 14. The formal budget adoption will take place at this meeting.