Each year the Kosciusko County Commissioners and council must approve the proposed grant awards from the Kosciusko County Coalition on Drug Education.

Tuesday, the commissioners approved the grants as presented.

Ruchelle Sammons, representing KCODE, said the Governor's Commission on a Drug Free Indiana was founded in 1988. Through that, money is allowed to be granted by KCODE from drug user fees for prevention and education, intervention and treatment, law enforcement and justice.

For 2005, 29 applications were made to KCODE totaling $150,000 and KCODE decided to award $110,000.

"The committee met and decided this is how they wanted things to go," Sammons told the commissioners.

In the prevention and education category, $84,874.43 was requested, with $54,833 being awarded. The four largest amounts will go to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department DARE program, $10,000; Boys & Girls Club Smart Moves, $6,000; Lakeland Youth Center Kids Club, $6,000; and Lifeline Youth & Family Services Center for Responsible Thinking, $5,000.

The 24 Hour Club will receive $10,500 for general support under the intervention and treatment category, with the Mental Health Association's Right Start Right Step program receiving the entire $3,500 it requested. The total for the intervention and treatment category to be awarded is $27,667. Amount requested was $37,059.

Under law enforcement and justice, the Warsaw Police Department will receive $7,173 for three patrol videos, with the Silver Lake Police Department receiving a total of $4,000 for equipment. Of the $33,217.36 requested in this category, $27,500 was awarded.

Commissioner Ron Truex asked Sammons why the KCSD was awarded no dollars for its meth watch program for billboards. KCSD requested $5,000. Sammons said KCODE will help meth programs financially but wanted a more comprehensive plan than billboards.

"I think a much more comprehensive (plan) is what they want," she said.

Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine told Truex he thought they could find alternative funds for the billboards and appreciated KCODE's help past and present.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Approved making the T-intersection at CRs 300N and 150E a multi-way stop.

• Approved repealing the old ordinances in Atwood regarding speed limits and establishing 35 miles per hour speed limit in the town and 45 mph as one drives into the town. The new speed limits should be effective Nov. 30.

• Approved the speed limit along CR 1250N at 45 mph.

• Approved a grant application as requested by emergency management director Ed Rock for an electronic fingerprint system for the sheriff's department. If the grant is approved, the state will pay for the machine and the five-year service agreement.

• Approved the vacation and rededication of a portion of Roy Drive 10 feet wide, on the north side of Yellow Creek Lake, as requested by Jack E. Sutton.

• Approved a second vendor for county employees' deferred compensation program, as requested by Robert L. Monaghan, senior financial adviser, AIG Valic Financial Advisors Inc., Carmel.

"I see no reason not to allow them to do so," said Sue Ann Mitchell, county auditor.

Ron Robinson, county administrator, agreed, saying he reviewed the information and found it to be OK.

• Approved the quarterly operating reports for the Kosciusko Area Bus Service.

Kosciusko County commissioners are Brad Jackson, northern district; Ron Truex, middle district; and Avis Gunter, southern district. They meet at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw, every other Tuesday. [[In-content Ad]]