Council criticizes Vigo County vote after city’s $15,000 warming-center request drew opposition

Terre Haute city staff told the council on Thursday that a $15,000 request to Vigo County to support warming-center operations for the 2025–26 season was placed on the county’s agenda and — city officials say — was approved in December but the funds were neither expended nor encumbered. When the same request came before the county this week, several county council members declined it, city officials said.

Jesse Tohill, director of public works and safety, told the council he submitted a written request to Vigo County Council seeking an additional appropriation of $15,000 to assist warming-center operations; he said the request included a copy of the city’s agreement with Mental Health America and noted the warming center had operated 34 days under the current agreement.

Council members responded with frustration. Councilperson Thompson said the county vote represented a ‘‘broken promise’’ and warned nonprofits and volunteers who covered immediate needs could be reluctant to step in again. ‘‘The likelihood of nonprofits wanting to work with the city and county proposal in the future — I will tell you the word has spread beyond just the agencies that were involved in the warming centers,’’ Thompson said.

Council members noted local nonprofits and individuals raised funds to cover a roughly $15,000 shortfall this week after the county action. Councilperson Loudermilk said the request and the mayor’s letter were in the county packet, and questioned whether county members had reviewed the material before voting.

Tohill stressed that the city convened a warming-center working group in September 2025 to revise operational criteria and to improve communications; he said the city will return to council later this year with updates on warming-center operations and coordination.

AT Ryan, director of the Human Relations Commission, reminded the council that the Lotus Center Warming Center will be open March 15–18 and asked members to share the city’s flyer and outreach materials. Tohill and Ryan both thanked Mental Health America and local nonprofits for their operational support.

No formal council action on intergovernmental funding was taken at Thursday’s meeting; council members asked staff to continue coordination with partners and to report back on options for sustaining warming-center operations if county support remains uncertain.