Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
At the first Kosciusko County commissioners meeting of 2004 today, county treasurer Stephanie Esenwein held the Board of Finance meeting.
She was re-elected board secretary by the commissioners, with Ron Truex, middle district commissioner, being re-elected as president.
Esenwein reported the county's 2003 investments included 1st Source Bank having $1,582,930.13; Lake City Bank, $1,890,961.51; and Flagstar Bank, $6,487,905.25.
Esenwein said the last interest earned on the sweep account during 2002 was $234,062.96. Even though interest rates have continued to be low, she said, the county did not lose money.
By allowing the sweep to end and investing in the investors weekly account as well as an interest bearing checking account, the county made $325,990.03 in interest in 2003, which is $91,927.07 more than in 2002.
In another matter, the commissioners approved the county to be the grant applicant for a Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant through the Indiana Department of Commerce on behalf of the Bowen Center for the Bowen Center to construct a facility.
The Department of Commerce provides grants to cities, towns and/or counties for projects serving low to moderate income persons. Inpatient clients are "severely disabled adults" who need 24-hour-a-day services. Severely disabled adults are presumed by HUD to be of low to moderate income.
Since Bowen Center is not eligible to apply for the grant, Bob Murphy, on behalf of the Bowen Center, requested that the county apply on their behalf.
Kosciusko Community Hospital is negotiating with The Otis R. Bowen Center for Human Services Inc. to purchase the building currently owned by Bowen Center and operated as an inpatient unit.
When the deal is struck, KCH will request the Bowen Center relocate all clients. Bowen Center has no place currently to relocate and serve those clients needing inpatient care, Murphy said.
The county would be the applicant but Bowen Center would provide all needed funds for the local match. Bowen Center would make recommendations to the commissioners concerning all contracts to be signed and assure that sufficient funds are available for payment.
The commissioners' responsibilities would include holding two public hearings, signing the application and all forms, writing 15 checks for payment of contracts using grant funds and signing reports for five years after completion of the audit by the state board of accounts.
Bowen Center's responsibilities would include paying for public hearing notices, providing all funds needed in excess of the grant, preparing a sub-recipient agreement, preparing the grant application, recommending contracts to be signed, overseeing construction and preparing all reports for five years after completion.
If the Bowen Center receives the grant, the Bowen Center will be required to operate the facility as an inpatient unit for at least five years after the State Board of Accounts' audit. Since the county would be the applicant, if the Bowen Center should close at any time, the county would ultimately have the responsibility of care for the inpatients, Murphy said.
Bowen Center has been operating the current inpatient unit since 1978. It is a requirement that Bowen Center, as a community mental health center, operate an inpatient unit. Murphy said the likelihood Bowen Center would not continue to operate the facility is not an option.
Murphy said the public hearing on the grant application will be Jan. 20 at 9 a.m. in the commissioners' meeting room. If the Bowen Center doesn't have a commitment from KCH by Jan. 22, the application won't be submitted but may be delayed until the fall.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved Jake Bitner and Richard Shipley as their Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals 2004 appointments.
• Approved a criminal justice grant for the Beaman Home.
• Heard from county auditor Sue Ann Mitchell that 7,500 dog tags were ordered for this year.
• Approved county attorney Mike Miner's contract for 2004 with no raise.
• Approved an agreement with the city of Warsaw for the city to take care of the county's parking lot.
Kosciusko County commissioners are Brad Jackson, northern district; Ron Truex, middle district; and Avis Gunter, southern district. They meet at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw, every other Tuesday.
