By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The most notable moment in the Kosciusko County Council’s regular meeting on Thursday, Dec. 10, was something not on the agenda.

Superior Court 1 Judge David Cates often spoke at Kosciusko County Council meetings.

The council began their meeting with a moment of silence for late Kosciusko County Superior Court 1 Judge David Cates and his family. Cates passed away unexpectedly Wednesday evening, Dec. 9, at his home in Syracuse.

Council member Joni Truex also mentioned Cates in prayer before the meeting.

“Heavenly Father, we come before you tonight, and there is much heaviness and much sadness in this room,” prayed Truex. “We have lost one of our own, Judge David Cates, who spent this life with a passion, loving his wife (Kim) passionately and also loving the children of our community, doing everything in his power from his judicial seat to help those who are helpless.

Lord, we know that he’s left a big hole in our hearts and we ask you to please let him know, because we know he is with You, to let him know how much he is loved and how very much he will be missed. Please be with Kim and the family as they go through this time of grief and trial and we ask You to please bless them. Give them peace that passes all understanding. God, put Your loving arms around them and bring them comfort.”

Cates’ wife Kim, is a member of the county council, but she did not attend the meeting.

At the end of the meeting, the council asked Superior Court 4 Judge Christopher Kehler about how Cates’ workload would be handled.

Kehler said he and Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed and Superior Court 2 Judge Torrey Bauer had talked and planned to take on some of Cates’ cases.

He said they would have to find a pro-tem judge to fill in fully for Cates until Gov. Eric Holcomb appoints a replacement.

CARES money

During the meeting, the council approved asking for reimbursement from the state for the payroll of some county employees.

The county could do that after the state determined it is OK to reimburse for public safety, health and other similar employees’ salaries from existing CARES Act money.

Council appointments

The council also approved appointments for its members and others to various boards.

They were the following:

• Dan Woods to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission until Dec. 31, 2021;
• Larry Coplen to the Area Plan Commission until Dec. 31, 2024;
• Mike Long to the Community Corrections Advisory Board until Dec. 31, 2022, KEDCo until Dec. 31, 2021, and the Solid Waste Board until Dec. 31, 2021;
• Kathy Groninger to Emergency Management Advisory until Dec. 31, 2021, the Kosciusko County Economic Development Commission until Dec. 31, 2021, and the Wage Committee as a nonvoting member until Dec. 31, 2021;
• Ernie Wiggins to the Michiana Area Council of Governments until Dec. 31, 2021, and the Warsaw Economic Development Committee until Dec. 31, 2021;
• Brock Ostrom to the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals until Dec. 31, 2021;
• Jan Orban to the Redevelopment Commission until Dec. 31, 2021;
• Truex to the Redevelopment Commission until Dec. 31, 2021, the Strategic Planning Committee until Dec. 31, 2021, and the Wage Committee as a voting member until Dec. 31, 2021;
• Sue Ann Mitchell to the Strategic Planning Committee until Dec. 31, 2021, and the Wage Committee as a voting member until Dec. 31, 2021;
• Jon Garber to the Strategic Planning Committee until Dec. 31, 2021;
• and Doug Heinisch to the Insurance Review Committee until Dec. 31, 2021;
• and a recommendation to appoint Tisha Holsten to the North Webster Community Public Library Board until Dec. 31, 2024.

In other business, the council also:

• Heard that technology should be installed soon in the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s old courtroom and Justice Center for video-conferencing and live-streaming of meetings.

The council could take advantage of those methods at its February meeting date if it wanted to.

• Approved having its next meeting on Jan. 14 in the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s old courtroom.

The January meeting is at 6 p.m. like usual.