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Position and title changes presented by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), IT Department and Community Corrections were unanimously approved Thursday night by the Kosciusko County Council.
The first change, presented by Sheriff Jim Smith, was for a new warrant/civil specialist, to start July 1.
“That is going to be for Marcia (Hollinger). You all know Marcia. She’s been here 29 years and is retiring at the end of the year,” he said.
With Hollinger’s nearly three decades of experience, Smith said it’ll take some time to train the next person.
“I’m her fifth sheriff that she’s worked for, so she’s been around a long time,” he said. “So what we’ve asked is, to be able to get somebody hired in July to learn from Marcia. That way, when she leaves at the end of the year - which we don’t want her to go! But it doesn’t seem to matter what I tell her, she’s still going to leave - that it’s a smooth transition for the agency and we’re not hindered by that loss.”
Money for the new position will come from two transfers totaling $20,000, so no additional appropriation is required for 2026.
“We found the money to be transferred, and then it’ll be incorporated into next year’s budget that will be presented to you,” Smith explained.
Councilwoman Kimberly Cates asked if next year’s budget then will be increased or if it’ll be similar to this year’s.
KCSO Matron Michelle Hyden responded, “This is a temporary full-time position for the last six months. Next year, essentially, the temporary position will fall off, they’ll take the position that Marcia’s in right now - that payroll account.”
She said she requested the job description be reviewed to see if there should be a level increase to the position’s wage as the job has changed over the years.
The council unanimously approved the salary ordinance and transfers.
Hyden then presented the new, additional position of a part-time jailer in the kitchen to help relieve the staff.
“As I’ve stated before, we’re saving a tremendous amount of money with the new program, but it is quite taxing as far as our employees. I’m asking a lot of my kitchen coordinator to do all the ordering and the inventory, along with covering any absences of the other two ladies ‘cause they all have to be covered. We can’t let that position go unfilled. So this is just to offer her a little relief. She does not have any type of normalcy in her schedule right now, so I’m hoping we can bring in a part-time person to relieve at least the coverage area,” Hyden said.
A transfer of $16,000, instead of an additional appropriation, will be used toward paying the position’s salary. The council approved the salary ordinance and transfer.
The third change for the KCSO was adding a sergeant position for court security to oversee court security staff. The position, which will be held by Rick Shepherd, who is already a member of court security, also will act as liaison to Jail Commander Kevin Gelbaugh. A transfer of $500 will support the position for now, Smith said, and it will be incorporated into the future budgets.
Councilman William Stockdale told Smith, “I’d like to commend you for making cuts and transfers from the existing budget, not asking for additional appropriations here. Being able to be creative, find flexible solutions and not coming to the council asking for more money. Thank you very much for that.”
He made the motion to approve the salary ordinance and transfer, and the motion passed 7-0.
Assistant IT Director Scott Van Westen presented a title change for the IT department’s support specialist, which was approved.
Then Van Westen presented a salary ordinance and transfer of $3,500 for the “new position we’ve kind of changed/created. It’s Garrit (Winans), who has been working for a year, year and a half as the public safety systems administrator. Moving his job to a (salary level) of a PAT5, and then just transferring in the commissioners’ part-time account. So there’s no additional funds being requested,” Van Westen said.
Both requests by Van Westen were approved.
The last change came from Community Corrections Director James Henry, who wanted approval for a salary ordinance to change the Drug Court Program case manager’s title to coordinator. The council approved the request, which did not involve a salary change.
The county council also approved:
• Smith’s request for the KCSO to apply for a $115,000 advance grant from the county opioid unrestricted funds to go toward a new body scanner for the jail. The county commissioners approved the grant application at their meeting Tuesday.
Council President Tony Ciriello said the county’s opioid committee will meet at 8:30 a.m. April 16 to discuss the grant application.
The sheriff’s office has already put a third of the cost of the scanner down in order to get the scanner at the 2025 cost.
• Smith’s request to apply for a $168,075.84 reimbursable grant from the K21 Health Foundation for the Kosciusko Community Recovery Program (KCRP), essentially for the resource navigator’s salary. The commissioners approved the grant application Tuesday. K21 approved a grant two years for the KCRP and it’s time for the sheriff’s office to reapply.
• For KCSO Lt. Mike Mulligan to apply for a 2026-27 reimbursable Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program (CHIRP) grant for $58,000 through the state for traffic enforcement. The commissioners approved the grant application Tuesday.
• Three appropriation adjustment requests for KCSO vehicles that were either damaged in accidents with other vehicles or a deer, as requested by Smith. The insurance reimbursement money will be put in the sheriff’s office vehicle replacement fund. The amounts were for $1,753.42 for a 2021 Ford Explorer; $1,000 for a 2021 Chevy Traverse; and $679.82 for a 2025 Ford Explorer.
• Purdue Extension 4-H Educator Amy Rumschlag’s request for a $2,000 additional appropriation and salary ordinance amendment for the Purdue Extension’s office manager/4-H administrative assistant for her work anniversary increase for 2026.
• A request by Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) for $180,000 in special project dollars, as brought forth by KEDCO Director of Projects and Operations Dawn Wilkinson.
Every year the commissioners and council budget $250,000 for special projects for KEDCO to utilize for different initiatives throughout the county as they come up.
A balance of $70,000 remains in the special projects fund.
The commissioners approved the $180,000 at their meeting Tuesday.
• Barry Ostrom to serve as the council’s airport committee appointment for 2026, replacing former city of Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins. Wiggins now serves on the Aviation Board as the mayor’s appointment.
The council also reviewed the first quarter 2026 commissary report, as presented by Smith and Hyden.
