From left, County Council Member Sue Ann Mitchell and County Council President Ernie Wiggins look over paperwork Thursday night, Feb. 13. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels.

WARSAW —  A request by Jail Chemical Addiction Program Coordinator Courtney Jenkins was approved at the  Kosciusko County Council meeting Thursday, Feb. 13.

Last month, when Jenkins requested permission to spend $114,861 received in grant funding from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, the request was tabled for further review due to questions about a line item involving Jail Commander Shane Coney.

That line item was removed and the funds have been reallocated to additional mental health services, Jenkins said.

“It turns out it’s really necessary because we are going to be running both a men’s and women’s program. Our next women’s group starts Feb. 24, and our next men’s group will start March 9,” Jenkins said. “Mental health services is by far our most expensive cost for the program and having that additional money for that will be important.”

The funding is divided into three categories: supplies, contractors and consultants.The supplies cover operating supplies, workbooks, yoga mats, journals and interview clothes, according to Jenkins, while the contractor portion covers contacts with Bowen Center and the consultant portion covers services with class instructors.

Sheriff Kyle Dukes talked about the support from the county for the JCAP program. The program has a success rate of over 60 percent, Dukes said. 

According to Dukes, there are 34 businesses that are supporting the program. Dukes and Jenkins expressed gratitude for the support received from numerous county departments and offices, including county council, the county prosecutor, probation, community corrections and Auditor Michelle Puckett.

“Thank you for your support and coming to our graduations and writing our graduates cards of encouragement,” Jenkins said. “It really means the world to them. That’s something they’ll cherish and be a reminder that they do have support from our county.”

Dukes then read a text message he received from a mother whose daughter is an addict and is currently incarcerated at the Kosciusko County Jail.  

The text read, in part, “I want to say thank you for everything. I see a difference in my daughter. I know she has a long road ahead, but she really looks up to you and Courtney. I really think God has done this for a reason to connect you and Courtney with my daughter. She will be strong again and be the person she was once.”

“I get these all the time,” Dukes said. “At the end of the day, this doesn’t happen without council support.”

Council approved Dukes’ request for an appropriation adjustment in the amount of $26,500 as well as a commissary resolution and the 2019 commissary fund expenditures report. 

Suzie Light, chief executive officer of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation; and Stephanie Overbey, associate director at the Foundation, provided an update related to the Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) grant program. Council approved Light’s request for a letter supporting the Foundation’s request to Lilly Endowment for countywide comprehensive planning. 

County Commissioner Cary Groninger gave an update regarding radio communication towers and requested permission for Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory to apply for a grant that offers assistance to firefighters. Council approved the request.

County Highway Superintendent Steve Moriarty shared that he received a letter from the state of Indiana last week notifying him that the county received a federal highway award of just over 1.2 million dollars for Bridge #30 on Beer Road, near Milford. The bridge goes over Turkey Creek.

Other News:

• Tippy-Chapman Sewer District appointments include Kim Hathaway as the Chapman Lake representative and Jeff Thornburg as the Tippecanoe Lake representative.
• Council members were informed about a new jail ministry program called Living In Transition Effectively (LITE), which will serve as a new jail ministry program for inmates.
• Representatives from Kosciusko Coalition on Drug Education attended the meeting to provide information about the youth services organization. 
• Jo Paczkowski from KCCRVC received approval for additional appropriation in the amount of $100,000. 
• A library board appointment and four other additional appropriation requests were approved.
• The next regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 12.