County Council Updated On Tower Project
March 14, 2020 at 2:26 a.m.
By Teresa Carrano-
Last month, Groninger hoped a grant would pay for the lion’s share of the towers’ cost. He advised the council that grant amount had shrunk quite a bit, but if the $3.2 million project is spread over a couple of years, the county’s economic development income tax (EDIT) fund can cover costs.
“We can afford this project,” he said. “And the 400-foot towers will allow for a lot of lease permits and that income should pay for upkeep.”
He noted the city of Warsaw will contribute $500,000 and, with other grants and contributions from various foundations, the project is affordable.
Councilman Doug Heinisch asked if the project as designed is the right answer for the county and Groininger said it was.
“We’ll have three mega sites, one in the north, central and southern parts of the county. All our public safety personnel will be able to reach dispatch, no matter what technology they have,” Groninger said.
Councilwoman Sue Ann Mitchell said there’s no worse feeling than asking for backup and not being able to reach a dispatcher, a situation she found herself in when she worked for the North Webster ambulance service.
Groininger said placement of the towers hasn’t been finalized as studies aren’t complete.
Sheriff Kyle Dukes presented his department’s year-end report. He noted that the jail population in December 2018 was 329 prisoners and is down to 286 now.
“The jail was built for a population of 294,” he said. “We send violent offenders to prison. We don’t keep them here. It’s not a holding facility.”
On the increase were calls for deputies, which were up more than 1,000 from 2018 figures of 23,205 to 2019 in 24,661.
Mitchell noted 192 more women were booked in 2019.
Dukes and Prosecutor Dan Hampton requested a memorandum of understanding to allow deputy Chris McKeand to work as the prosecutor’s investigator while remaining on the sheriff’s department payroll until 2026. This will allow McKeand to receive his retirement through the sheriff’s department. After 2026, his salary would come from the prosecutor’s budget.
The council agreed to this arrangement, and the prosecutor’s budget for an investigator was reduced by $50,724. Dukes then requested an additional appropriation of $50,011 for a deputy’s salary, along with the accompanying salary ordinance amendment, which were approved.
Hampton noted that McKeand has worked in the prosecuting attorney’s office since January, which resulted in filing 117 new felony charges.
Community Corrections Director Barry Andrew made the following budget reductions on a home detention grant, saying these cuts will be paid from user fees ordinance request on a home detention grant: community corrections home detention officer, $35,000; Social Security contribution, $3,115; retirement contributions, $945; and group insurance, $22,440, for a total of $61,500
Andrew also reduced a drug court grant by $75,609 for the following items: community corrections home detention officer, $1,882; community corrections home detention officer, $38,857; Social Security contribution, $1,130; retirement contributions, $4,612; group insurance, $24,128, and program manuals, $3,000.
He received approval for additional appropriations for incentive, $3,000, and an electronic monitoring contract, $7,632, amounts awarded through a grant.
County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty requested an additional appropriation for pavement markings at railroad grade crossings costing $36,750, which was approved.
Dukes returned to the council podium to accept $48,295 in various grant awards for upcoming Operating Pullover operations, which were approved.
The council unanimously reappointed Jim Haney to another four-year term on the Lakeland Regional Sewer District. Haney has served on the board for 12 years.
Groninger asked for a salary ordinance for a new department and new position of human resources and human resources director, which were approved. The director, Kathy Reed, will receive a salary of $61,898.
Groninger says this takes some of the human resource responsibilities from County Administrator Marsha McSherry, who has picked up other projects.
The council voted to change meeting times from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. for all future meetings in 2020.
In other business:
• Judge Mike Reed requested permission to accept a $60,000 Justice Partners Addictions Response Grant for training and treatment, second year opioid response unit.
• Emergency Management Director Ed Rock received approval to apply for a 2020 State Homeland Security priority funding grant request of $214,000. The money will be used to upgrade the court security entrances.
• Hampton ‘s request to apply for a 2020 Senior HUB grant of $20,000 was approved.
• Dukes also received permission to apply for a $15,000 Indiana Department of Natural Resources grant to continue marine patrols on Lake Wawasee, Syracuse and Tippecanoe lakes.
Last month, Groninger hoped a grant would pay for the lion’s share of the towers’ cost. He advised the council that grant amount had shrunk quite a bit, but if the $3.2 million project is spread over a couple of years, the county’s economic development income tax (EDIT) fund can cover costs.
“We can afford this project,” he said. “And the 400-foot towers will allow for a lot of lease permits and that income should pay for upkeep.”
He noted the city of Warsaw will contribute $500,000 and, with other grants and contributions from various foundations, the project is affordable.
Councilman Doug Heinisch asked if the project as designed is the right answer for the county and Groininger said it was.
“We’ll have three mega sites, one in the north, central and southern parts of the county. All our public safety personnel will be able to reach dispatch, no matter what technology they have,” Groninger said.
Councilwoman Sue Ann Mitchell said there’s no worse feeling than asking for backup and not being able to reach a dispatcher, a situation she found herself in when she worked for the North Webster ambulance service.
Groininger said placement of the towers hasn’t been finalized as studies aren’t complete.
Sheriff Kyle Dukes presented his department’s year-end report. He noted that the jail population in December 2018 was 329 prisoners and is down to 286 now.
“The jail was built for a population of 294,” he said. “We send violent offenders to prison. We don’t keep them here. It’s not a holding facility.”
On the increase were calls for deputies, which were up more than 1,000 from 2018 figures of 23,205 to 2019 in 24,661.
Mitchell noted 192 more women were booked in 2019.
Dukes and Prosecutor Dan Hampton requested a memorandum of understanding to allow deputy Chris McKeand to work as the prosecutor’s investigator while remaining on the sheriff’s department payroll until 2026. This will allow McKeand to receive his retirement through the sheriff’s department. After 2026, his salary would come from the prosecutor’s budget.
The council agreed to this arrangement, and the prosecutor’s budget for an investigator was reduced by $50,724. Dukes then requested an additional appropriation of $50,011 for a deputy’s salary, along with the accompanying salary ordinance amendment, which were approved.
Hampton noted that McKeand has worked in the prosecuting attorney’s office since January, which resulted in filing 117 new felony charges.
Community Corrections Director Barry Andrew made the following budget reductions on a home detention grant, saying these cuts will be paid from user fees ordinance request on a home detention grant: community corrections home detention officer, $35,000; Social Security contribution, $3,115; retirement contributions, $945; and group insurance, $22,440, for a total of $61,500
Andrew also reduced a drug court grant by $75,609 for the following items: community corrections home detention officer, $1,882; community corrections home detention officer, $38,857; Social Security contribution, $1,130; retirement contributions, $4,612; group insurance, $24,128, and program manuals, $3,000.
He received approval for additional appropriations for incentive, $3,000, and an electronic monitoring contract, $7,632, amounts awarded through a grant.
County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty requested an additional appropriation for pavement markings at railroad grade crossings costing $36,750, which was approved.
Dukes returned to the council podium to accept $48,295 in various grant awards for upcoming Operating Pullover operations, which were approved.
The council unanimously reappointed Jim Haney to another four-year term on the Lakeland Regional Sewer District. Haney has served on the board for 12 years.
Groninger asked for a salary ordinance for a new department and new position of human resources and human resources director, which were approved. The director, Kathy Reed, will receive a salary of $61,898.
Groninger says this takes some of the human resource responsibilities from County Administrator Marsha McSherry, who has picked up other projects.
The council voted to change meeting times from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. for all future meetings in 2020.
In other business:
• Judge Mike Reed requested permission to accept a $60,000 Justice Partners Addictions Response Grant for training and treatment, second year opioid response unit.
• Emergency Management Director Ed Rock received approval to apply for a 2020 State Homeland Security priority funding grant request of $214,000. The money will be used to upgrade the court security entrances.
• Hampton ‘s request to apply for a 2020 Senior HUB grant of $20,000 was approved.
• Dukes also received permission to apply for a $15,000 Indiana Department of Natural Resources grant to continue marine patrols on Lake Wawasee, Syracuse and Tippecanoe lakes.
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