A grant application by the Kosciusko County prosecutor’s office for surveillance equipment for law enforcement didn’t get unanimous approval by the county commissioners Tuesday due to concerns of potential government overstepping its bounds.
Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dan Hampton requested permission Tuesday to apply for a Flock Cameras grant on behalf of law enforcement for $81,390 for surveillance equipment over the course of five years.
“The police officers helped the prosecutor’s office apply for this grant, that’s why you’ll see it’s already been applied for. However, of course, if you do not want us to have it, we just won’t accept it if it’s granted. Sorry, I apologize for that, but this is for supplementing surveillance equipment,” he said.
Commissioner Bob Conley said, “I think we’ve seen that throughout the county. These cameras are popping up everywhere. A lot of concern. People want to know what the heck’s going on here. Videotaping every time we go up and down the road, every time we go to the grocery store and every time.”
“No,” Hampton said, but Conley continued, “You’re going to know where we’re at and what we’re doing. It’s a major concern that I’ve heard that they’ve called me about.”
Hampton replied, “The storage of it lasts for 30 days and then it’s wiped out. It has no audio. It’s all license plate readers. It does pick up the make and model of the vehicle and the license plate readers. Most of the hits that we are getting on are for driving while suspended and illegal registration, improper registration. Things where cars are not supposed to be on the roadways to begin with, and that’s helping out both the safety of the community, as well as picking up on stolen vehicles. So it helps out with our property insurance.”
Commissioner Brad Jackson said, “I’ve seen it. We’ve met and I’ve looked at it, and I think it’s a great tool, but I’m pretty sure I’m a ‘no’ vote because I think you have to look at the good and the bad. It’s a great tool, but I just think it’s an overstep with surveillance because you can see people in the vehicles if they’re coming ... so I just have concern about giving up freedom on that authority for safety.”
Hampton responded, “Again, we’ve solved several crimes in the community, some with actual homicides. Suspects that we are looking around the community for, that we know the vehicles they are driving, or the license plates, things like that. We’re able to put that out on the cameras. Also, these cameras interface with other cameras through other counties. Multiple counties throughout the state. You’ve probably seen these cameras throughout the state, actually through the country. All these cameras communicate with each other, so we can not only pick up what happens in our county, but it also communicates with what happens in Indianapolis, what happens in Fort Wayne, South Bend, all these other communities in the state, plus it reaches as far down as Florida. As far west as California, so it’s throughout the whole country. Trying to catch the bad guy.”
Commissioner Cary Groninger made the motion to approve the grant application, with Conley seconding the motion.
“I like the concept that it’s only used every 30 days as information goes away. It’s not like we’re keeping track of people and tracking where you’re going and all that ... that’s a big plus and the reason I am voting the way I am,” Conley said.
The motion passed 2-1, with Jackson opposed.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved County Clerk Ann Torpy’s request to purchase new voting machine panels for a total of $560,000.
She said she submitted the purchase agreement on Monday to the county auditor and attorney. The clerk’s office will pay $286,000 of the cost, with the commissioners paying $273,000.
“Everything stays the same, it’s just the panel that voters cast their ballot on need changed out,” Torpy said. “They’re 20 years old. They’re not really failing, they’re just getting older and some of the parts, if they do, are outdated and can’t be replaced.”
• Approved Health Department Administrator Bob Weaver’s request to enter into a five-year agreement with Kosciusko Health Services Pavilion for leased space off-site. The commissioners’ approval of the lease agreement included giving Weaver the authority to sign for it.
• Heard an eight-minute presentation from Rusty Holt, study manager for the ProPEL U.S. 30 East study, on the two-year study. His presentation was similar to the one he gave to the Warsaw Common Council on Monday night.
The Level 3 report was recently finished and published online at propelus30.com on Nov. 12, and public comments are being taken on it until Dec. 13.
Groninger encouraged the public to look at and comment on the study.
• Approved the 2025 interlocal agreements for terminal services data, as presented by County Administrator Marsha McSherry.
“These are interlocal agreements with the outer-lying police departments and this gives them access to the data that the sheriff’s department has as well,” she said, adding that it’s an annual agreement.
• Approved the purchase agreement from KDA Furniture & Interiors, as requested by McSherry. The furniture is for 11 cubicles with four work stations in the county clerk’s office. Total cost is $41,413.69.
• Approved the 2025 commissioners’ board appointments, department head appointments and miscellaneous appointments.
• Approved the third quarter claims for Kosciusko Area Bus Service. General Manager Kristin Rude said KABS incurred a total of $346,001 in expenses in the third quarter. Of that amount, $173,000 is covered by federal operating funds; $23,299 is supported by the state operating match; and the remaining balance of $149,702 is funded by the local match.
The next commissioners meeting is at 9 a.m. Dec. 17.