If you want the Kosciusko County Council to approve something, it's a good idea to have a representative present at their meeting.

Because the Kosciusko County Coalition on Drug Education did not have a representative present Thursday, the council tabled to January approval of K-CODE's grants to be awarded.

The money awarded by K-CODE comes from user fees collected through the courts and county clerk's office. A board then meets to decide how to administer the funds in three categories.

Councilman Larry Teghtmeyer said he had some questions on the $88,000 to be awarded by K-CODE.

"I wouldn't mind hearing someone present it," he said.

Sue Ann Mitchell, county auditor, said the awarding of the money is supposed to be a two-step process. First, K-CODE would present the information to the county commissioners. After the commissioners approve, it would then be presented to the county council. However, Mitchell said, they received the information after the last commissioners' meeting, so it was being presented to the council first. The commissioners will hear the K-CODE information Tuesday.

Could the money be used differently? council president Harold Jones asked. Could it be used to pay the county's DARE officer? Mitchell said it could not, it had to be used for specific categories, including prevention, education, intervention, treatment, law enforcement and justice.

Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine said the county sheriff's department benefited greatly from the funds.

Of the $88,000 to be awarded, $33,450 is to be awarded under prevention and education, with Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department DARE to receive the most, $9,650.

Under intervention and treatment, $9,140 of the $25,000 is to be awarded to the Bowen Center and $10,000 for the 24 Hour Club for rent and utilities.

The law enforcement and justice total is $29,550, with the most - $6,550 - going to Kosciusko County Reserves for a camcorder, camera and ammunition.

In other business, the county council:

• Approved transfers of $3,400 for the county auditor's office; $4,000 for E-911; $1,500 for the election board; $5,000 for county highway; $1,524.74 for the county jail; $225 for Turkey Creek Township; $1,400 for Wayne Township; and $518 and $200 for county coroner.

• Approved additional appropriations of $5,000 for the county coroner and $127,850 for the county highway for the purchase of front-end loader.

• Approved Rovenstine's sheriff contract for 2004 for $80,875. The contract includes the same $300 raise as all other county employees.

• Approved a salary ordinance for the central dispatchers to equalize the county dispatchers' biweekly pay with the city of Warsaw's dispatcher pay. Biweekly wages will be $1,273.07 for 26.2 pays for a total annual wage of $33,354.43.

• Approved the 2004 appointments of Charlie Ker and Howard Woodward Jr. to the property tax appeals board; Kenny Johnson, Alcoholic Beverage Commission; John Kinsey, Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District board; and Larry Teghtmeyer, Kosciusko Development Inc.

• Approved council president Harold Jones and vice president Tom Anglin to remain in their prospective offices for 2004.

• Approved an interlocal agreement with KCSWMD for the county auditor to act as controller for the district for $6,000 per year.

• Approved the creation of a rainy day fund for Economic Development Income Tax proceeds.

Under the state's revised plans, Kosciusko County will receive $475,811.23 back for EDIT to be specifically earmarked for the Rainy Day Fund. The money can be spent for anything the county council wants, but the ordinance approved indicates the money can be used only to help pay the lease payment for the Justice Building expansion project if the county experiences a shortfall in funds to pay for it.

Members of the Kosciusko County Council are Harold Jones, Tom Anglin, Larry Teghtmeyer, John Kinsey, Charlene Knispel, Brad Tandy and Maurice Beer. Their next meeting is at 7 p.m. Jan. 8. [[In-content Ad]]