Council opens applications for opioid funds and approves multiple transfers and small grants requests

At the July 9 meeting, the Kosciusko County Council publicized availability of $374,000 in unrestricted opioid settlement funds and instructed interested, qualifying entities to apply via the county website and submit applications to the auditor’s office for committee review in September.

Chair (speaker 3) said the funds stem from federal and state settlements the county opted into and that restricted and unrestricted portions differ; the $374,000 figure refers to the unrestricted balance the council said could be dispersed under qualifying uses.

The council also approved two transfers totaling $22,000 requested by county staff to reconcile the Bowen Center payment following budget-year levy clarifications; the transfers moved $11,000 from commissioners’ office supplies and $11,000 from commissioner contractual services into the Bowen Center line items. County staff stated the payment is required by state policy.

Separately, probation staff (speaker 11) received council approval to apply for a $2,500 advance grant from the United Way to pay for three user logins for a web-based supervision/attendance program. Multiple small salary ordinance amendments and transfers for highway and receptionist payroll and a dispatch payroll transfer (including a $1,400 transfer to cover a step increase) were also approved during the meeting.