Pierceton Approves Rezoning For Juvenile Facility
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
PIERCETON - Despite protests from adjacent neighbors, the town council approved a rezoning of 60 acres to public use in the Cubs Development industrial park north of U.S. 30.
Lifeline Youth and Family Services Inc.'s Chief Executive Officer Mark Terrell answered questions and talked about the proposed complex Monday.
The proposed facility would initially house 60 to 70 male juveniles, ages 8 to 18, in three group homes. Future plans include two more group homes, a school, a chapel and recreational facilities.
"It's a secure facility, not a juvenile prison," Terrell said. "They are there for two reasons. Either they made poor decisions or their parents made poor decisions. They are considered a moderate security risk."
Lifeline does not accept children who need to be medicated to modify their behavior, although they may be on medication. Length of stay is from 90 days to nine months, as ordered by a judge.
Lifeline attorney Steve Snyder, when asked where the children would be coming from, said, "Kosciusko County has more than enough kids to fill the facility now."
Snyder said the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department takes the boys to facilities in South Bend, Fort Wayne or Kokomo now and must return to pick them up for initial hearings or subsequent hearings, on a regular basis.
The courts and state decide how each facility is operated, Snyder said, and the courts decide where a child will go.
Terrell said the staff-to-juvenile ratio is 1-to-3 or 1-to-5, there are video security cameras, individual cells, bed checks every 15 minutes and a recreational area that would be fenced-in on all sides and over the top.
These assurances didn't placate some citizens.
"After the first assault and battery caused by a kid breaking out to steal a car, Pierceton won't be known as an antiques town, but as a prison town," one man said.
Town council president Jerry Kreger took exception to that statement, saying he was proud of the town, the excellent fire department and topnotch police department.
A question was asked about the type of crimes committed by the youths sent to the facility, and Terrell said they might have violent tendencies and be aggressive, but aren't violent offenders.
"We do a complete screening of each individual. We do not have to accept them," he said.
Snyder asked the questioner if a fist fight in school was violent. "That's assault and battery, but not with a deadly weapon."
Lifeline currently operates three juvenile facilities in the area: Black Lake Lodge, north of Larwill; Riverwood Ranch, on the west side of Warsaw; and Byrer Manor, outside of Warsaw. Terrell said the children in those facilities would be brought to Pierceton and the current facilities would eventually be closed and sold.
Pierceton reserve officer Jeff Davis works for Lifeline and said he loves working for the company.
Dan Richard, director of the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission, said after the APC's favorable recommendation, the town's approval is the final word on the rezoning. The company has to submit drainage and site plans for review.
Kreger presented board member Terry Hill with a plaque of appreciation for nine years of service on the town council.
"Terry was always proactive, not reactive," Kreger said. "He always asked, 'What can we do to make the town better?' Your efforts have truly made the town a better place to live."
Kreger and Hill were elected to the council in 1996. Hill is moving out of town at the end of January.
"To say I'm not going to miss the town would be a lie," Hill said. He has always lived in Pierceton.
The council also:
• Approved three applications for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation grants as presented by Pam Kennedy, executive director of Warsaw Housing Opportunities. WHO is administering the town's third housing grant.
Applications are still being accepted for the program. Funds are available for improvements to 30 homes in the next 18 months.
• Heard that an ordinance banning skateboards from the downtown streets and sidewalks has been drafted. The council will vote on the new law at the February meeting.
• Heard from fire chief Gordon Baker that the department has 13 first responders now and they will be dispatched with ambulance runs.
Baker said applications for firefighters and first responders are being accepted. Call 574-594-2132 for more information.
Town council members are Jerry Kreger, Terry Hill and Robert Tenney. [[In-content Ad]]
PIERCETON - Despite protests from adjacent neighbors, the town council approved a rezoning of 60 acres to public use in the Cubs Development industrial park north of U.S. 30.
Lifeline Youth and Family Services Inc.'s Chief Executive Officer Mark Terrell answered questions and talked about the proposed complex Monday.
The proposed facility would initially house 60 to 70 male juveniles, ages 8 to 18, in three group homes. Future plans include two more group homes, a school, a chapel and recreational facilities.
"It's a secure facility, not a juvenile prison," Terrell said. "They are there for two reasons. Either they made poor decisions or their parents made poor decisions. They are considered a moderate security risk."
Lifeline does not accept children who need to be medicated to modify their behavior, although they may be on medication. Length of stay is from 90 days to nine months, as ordered by a judge.
Lifeline attorney Steve Snyder, when asked where the children would be coming from, said, "Kosciusko County has more than enough kids to fill the facility now."
Snyder said the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department takes the boys to facilities in South Bend, Fort Wayne or Kokomo now and must return to pick them up for initial hearings or subsequent hearings, on a regular basis.
The courts and state decide how each facility is operated, Snyder said, and the courts decide where a child will go.
Terrell said the staff-to-juvenile ratio is 1-to-3 or 1-to-5, there are video security cameras, individual cells, bed checks every 15 minutes and a recreational area that would be fenced-in on all sides and over the top.
These assurances didn't placate some citizens.
"After the first assault and battery caused by a kid breaking out to steal a car, Pierceton won't be known as an antiques town, but as a prison town," one man said.
Town council president Jerry Kreger took exception to that statement, saying he was proud of the town, the excellent fire department and topnotch police department.
A question was asked about the type of crimes committed by the youths sent to the facility, and Terrell said they might have violent tendencies and be aggressive, but aren't violent offenders.
"We do a complete screening of each individual. We do not have to accept them," he said.
Snyder asked the questioner if a fist fight in school was violent. "That's assault and battery, but not with a deadly weapon."
Lifeline currently operates three juvenile facilities in the area: Black Lake Lodge, north of Larwill; Riverwood Ranch, on the west side of Warsaw; and Byrer Manor, outside of Warsaw. Terrell said the children in those facilities would be brought to Pierceton and the current facilities would eventually be closed and sold.
Pierceton reserve officer Jeff Davis works for Lifeline and said he loves working for the company.
Dan Richard, director of the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission, said after the APC's favorable recommendation, the town's approval is the final word on the rezoning. The company has to submit drainage and site plans for review.
Kreger presented board member Terry Hill with a plaque of appreciation for nine years of service on the town council.
"Terry was always proactive, not reactive," Kreger said. "He always asked, 'What can we do to make the town better?' Your efforts have truly made the town a better place to live."
Kreger and Hill were elected to the council in 1996. Hill is moving out of town at the end of January.
"To say I'm not going to miss the town would be a lie," Hill said. He has always lived in Pierceton.
The council also:
• Approved three applications for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation grants as presented by Pam Kennedy, executive director of Warsaw Housing Opportunities. WHO is administering the town's third housing grant.
Applications are still being accepted for the program. Funds are available for improvements to 30 homes in the next 18 months.
• Heard that an ordinance banning skateboards from the downtown streets and sidewalks has been drafted. The council will vote on the new law at the February meeting.
• Heard from fire chief Gordon Baker that the department has 13 first responders now and they will be dispatched with ambulance runs.
Baker said applications for firefighters and first responders are being accepted. Call 574-594-2132 for more information.
Town council members are Jerry Kreger, Terry Hill and Robert Tenney. [[In-content Ad]]