Fremont County agrees to apply as pass-through for $5 million grant to support Dubois BOCES youth facility

Fremont County commissioners voted to let the county serve as a pass-through applicant for a $5 million State Loan and Investment Board grant to support a proposed BOCES residential and transition program in Dubois, with an amendment that Fremont County accept no financial obligation.

BOCES representatives and county staff told the commissioners the program would target students with Individualized Education Programs who are transition age (about 16–17) and unaccompanied or in state custody, and that referrals would come from school districts or court orders. "We either get this opportunity in full or we don't because we don't wanna be in this limbo," a staff member said of the application strategy.

The commissioners pressed staff on practical and financial details. Commissioners and staff described an arrangement in which BOCES would initially pay project expenses, provide itemized receipts to the county, and the county would forward claims to the state for reimbursement, with the state eventually reimbursing the county, which would then reimburse BOCES. Legal counsel Nathan said the county's precise obligations would depend on the final grant agreement and pledged further review if the award is made: "the grant requirements are I don't know what the grant would require the county or obligations," he said.

Several commissioners said they were uneasy about cash flow and potential liability. One commissioner invoked previous negative publicity and said, "I'm tired of us getting in trouble," urging caution before the county takes on risk. Commissioners also asked who would front tens of thousands or millions in construction or acquisition costs if the state does not pay upfront; an example figure of $4,200,000 was raised as a possible near-term cash-flow need.

Public comment highlighted mixed local views. Carol Chitzy, a volunteer at county group homes, urged support and described staffing shortages at local group homes: "They just can't keep the staff." By contrast, DuBois resident Kimberly Davis, who said the town has about 931 people and limited medical and employment resources, told commissioners she feared the community lacked capacity to support a residential youth facility.

BOCES leaders said the proposed Dubois site matched the state's facility-cost allowance and that the application was written as an "all or nothing" request to avoid partial funding that could leave the county or BOCES exposed. BOCES representatives said their board would decide whether to accept the grant if it included conditions they found unacceptable.

Commissioner Barbaresis moved that Fremont County and Region 5 enter an agreement to apply for the $5 million grant through the State Loan and Investment Board. The motion was seconded and then amended on the record so that the county would participate only as a pass-through agency with no financial obligations. The chair called the question and the motion passed by voice vote. The board adjourned after the vote.

Next steps: county staff and BOCES said they will continue data gathering, consult with school districts and state agencies, and await details of the grant terms; the county will review any draft grant agreement before accepting an award.