Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine had to explain his requests for more than $123,000 in additional appropriations Thursday to the county council.
He asked for $50,000 for inmate meals and the same amount for medical expenses for prisoners.
Rovenstine said the $60,000 quarterly limit set by the state for meals was not enough this year. The sheriff is allocated $1.42 per meal per prisoner and the account is running $12,000 in the red, he said.
"I was told to hold the bill over until the start of the year," the sheriff said, "and now we have an increase in population, we're feeding more inmates."
The sheriff also asked for $10,000 for travel expenses. Directed to bring people in for non-payment of child support, the department has been traveling to points south and west to bring in the violators.
So far this year more than 20 men have been returned to the county.
"They are five to 10 years behind in support payments," Rovenstine said, "owing thousands of dollars." He added that when they flee, they head to Florida, Arizona and California.
The additional increase in medical expenses was attributed to one inmate whose kidney failed while he was incarcerated. His medical costs added up to $6,000.
Prosecuting attorney Chuck Waggoner explained that most of the support skippers "don't have a spot to spit on and are not willing to work to have that spot because if they accumulate anything we'll take it away."
Council president Jim Tranter asked if the county was reimbursed for the expenses and the sheriff said no.
Rovenstine explained the names of people who skip on support payments are entered into a national system and, if arrested in another state, are extradited back to Indiana.
"At this point we go after everyone we're notified about," he said.
Tranter suggested a task force be formed to study the situation.
Requests for the jail and sheriff's departments were approved.
Other approved appropriations included:
• A request from the coroner's office for X-ray and laboratory fees in the amount of $10,000.
• Acceptance of a K21 Foundation grant of $25,800 for the Well Child Clinic.
Several transfers also were approved, including:
• A request by the auditor's office for $1,000 from legal services to office supplies.
• A request of $36,000 by Superior Courts II and III from various accounts to the pauper counsel.
• A request from the prosecutor of $2,160 from the incentive account to the part-time fund.
• $51,000 from the commissioners from consulting to computer cartridges and $300 from consulting to Internet.
• From the sheriff's department, $1,074 from LEF user fees to continuing education.
• From the coroner, $3,304 from the truck fund to mileage.
• And from the county assessor, $2,663 from the deputy account to the chief deputy account.
The council held a final budget hearing and passed a salary ordinance with a 3 percent increase for county employees.
In other business the board:
• County auditor Sue Ann Mitchell said the county will receive $77,000 in the tobacco settlement funds.
Mitchell also said 62 properties were sold during the tax sale netting $507,013.
County council members are Jim Tranter, Brad Tandy, Tom Anglin, Harold Jones, Maurice Beer, Larry Teghtmeyer and John Kinsey.
