The Kosciusko County Commissioners heard presentations from not-for-profits organizations during its Tuesday meeting. In terms of requests for 2012 budgets, not-for-profits requested more than $1 million from the county Tuesday. Bowen Center requested $515,690 from the county but that amount is mandated by the state. Bowen Center’s request is up $13,080 from its request for 2011. Funding Bowen Center is required by Indiana Code 12-29-2-2. The formula for determining required funding amount is specified by the same Indiana Code. Bowen Center’s request assumes a 3.5 percent assessed value growth quotient which factors into the equation for the funding. For the other not-for-profits, requests totaled $507,267, up from $469,857 for the 2011 budget cycle. The County Council will hear the presentations at its July meeting. After that, the commissioners will provide a recommendation to the council. The budgets will be approved at the council’s September meeting. See the attached chart for requested amounts. The common theme for many of the not-for-profits is that the money they receive from the state continues to dwindle. Jane Greene, Cardinal Services, said her company has reduced employee wages by 4 percent and had to cut staff. Greene said her comapny is seeing 20 percent reductions in Medicaid payments. Green staff said that less staff, among other things, can cause behavioral problems with clients. “Everybody has a pretty common theme,” said commissioner Ron Truex. Beaman Home Traci Hodson said her organization is looking to expand its servicese and change the perception of the Beaman Home. Hodson said while they continue to serve battered women they also provide services to women without them having to go to the home. Hodson said along with off-site consultations, they are also teaching mandatory life skills classes to the women. There is a meeting center located off U.S. 30 near the Honda dealership. For more information, call 574-267-0182. The Animal Welfare League had both its best year in terms of adoptions but also a watershed year in pets coming through the facility. AWL Executive Director Darla McCammon and AWL board president Chris Harrison said the AWL is in the process of a three-year plan to improve the facility. Along with that, the AWL is more aggressive in its branding and promotions. The AWL will be at up to 50 events this summer with animals up for adoption and is agressively marketing itself with the slogan “Help Pets and People” to show that the center is an activity center and not just a shelter. In other business, County Administrator Ron Robinson asked for and was approved to allw computers and a server to be purchased for the county’s probation department. Robinson also had the commissioenrs sign a contract with NIPSCO for gas rates. County Highway Superintendent Scott Tilden told the commissioners that his department has started road programs for the year. It includes paving work on CR 75E from CR 175E to CR 225E. Tilden estimated that the week after July 4, chip sealing will begin. The highway department has targeted 19 miles to work on up until Labor Day. Then after that another month of paving will take place. Tilden said there will be about $350,000 in patch work in 2011. Tilden said he is still working on the bridge program that he will present to the commissioners. The commisisoners also: – Approved an agreement in which the federal government pays half the cost for the county’s Emergency Management department. The total is $44,665.60. – Recognized Kerry Slater as the Veteran of the Month. Slater, a Sidney resident, is a Vietnam veteran who served from 1971 to 1973. – designated June 27 to June 4 as Lakes Awareness week. It comes after the Northern Indiana Lakes Festival which is June 25 at Center Lake Park. - were informed the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department recently bought 13 bulletproof vests and are seeking federal funding to help pay for them. The commissioners next meeting is at 9 a.m. June 21.
