Director of Vera Lloyd asks council for a single appropriation to cover small repairs and keep group homes operating

Norm Lotter Milk, executive director of the Vera Lloyd Kroc Home for Children, asked the Vigo County Council to approve a single, larger appropriation to cover an array of small capital repairs and maintenance needs for the nonprofit’s group homes.

Lotter Milk said the organization has encountered unanticipated expenses — termite treatment, missing roof shingles, damaged front steps, and other repairs — and prefers one appropriation that will carry the homes through the end of the year rather than returning repeatedly for small sums. He described the planned approach: larger projects (roofing, contractors) will be approved by the commissioners, while smaller purchases (for example, supplies) would come from the non‑reverting 25% fund under his control.

During questions, Lotter Milk said the homes are licensed for nine but that practical limits — separation by sex, age ranges and treatment needs — often reduce usable beds and that maintaining two houses is necessary because of sex- and age-based separation requirements. He said the operation currently has 12 employees and that, on average, having four children in care would approximately meet the program’s budget under current rates: “If we average four kids … we will meet our budget.” He also described problems with DCS placements and outreach, including outdated website and brochure information that has since been corrected.

Commissioner Mike Morris told the council commissioners are engaged in disbursement decisions and said turning over the funds would “simplify things” while acknowledging the commissioners will review larger procurements.

Next steps: The council will consider the appropriation request during the budget process; commissioners and auditors will be involved in approving vendor/contractor selections for significant projects.