Sheriff Rocky Goshert gave a report on the work release program at the Kosciusko County Council meeting Thursday.
The program, which allows inmates to seek or maintain a job, allows prisoners to support their families or prove they can gain employment.Goshert said the department's goal is to have 100 inmates in the program.
In March there were 59 paying inmates and 12 others who recently entered the program at 2605 E. Center St., a former hotel building.
The program started in 2002 in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Correction. Inmates with 60 to 90 days of their sentences remaining may re-enter the workforce. They are charged rent and other fees. The money goes into the county general fund.
There are 71 inmates in the detention center now, and seven open beds. Goshert said there is room for 100, but not enough beds.
Drug testing is now done on a weekly basis and prior to anyone entering the work release program.
Sgt. Floyd Knafel, of the sheriff's department, is the program director.
Knafel said because of recent upgrades, including a kitchen addition, the old kitchen is the guard office. A new waiting area is under construction. A soda machine has been added as well as a pay-per-cup coffee machine.
Income comparisons show $88,389 as of March 2006, compared to $90,520 at the end of March 2007.
There were 18 more inmates (59 average) paying at the end of March than in March 2006 (41 average).
The commissary fund at the end of March 2006 was $3,859, and $8,110 at the end of March 2007.
The council approved a request by county attorney Mike Miner, who asked the council to consider approving a Louis Dreyfus' tax increment financing and bond agreement rewording regarding employment and investment. The company is building a biodiesel facility south of Claypool. The wording is to change the language to read that Louis Dreyfus would "cause and create jobs and cause and create investments."
Miner said the company may wish to retain the services of a subcontractor in both areas.
The council heard from County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell that if the state approves the county's tax rate by May 10, spring tax bills should be sent out early enough to allow for a June 30 tax distribution.
Property owners in the Tippecanoe Valley School district will not receive tax statements this spring because Fulton County's assessments have not been approved. The government entities in Franklin and Seward townships, which include the towns of Mentone and Burket, those township trustees, the Bell Memorial Library as well as the school corporation, will not receive their distributions until after the November collection date.
Prairie Township Trustee-Assessor Julie Goon asked the council to look at the horse-drawn buggy and dog tax ordinances.
Goon said people pay $25 for the first horse-drawn buggy plate and $7.50 for additional plates. The trustee gets to keep $1 for every plate sold. There is no ruling about where the money goes and there is no fee consistency between counties.
Marshall County does not sell horse-drawn buggy plates, Goon said, so people purchase them in Kosciusko County. In LaGrange County, the plates cost $100 each. Kosciusko County sells about 1,000 each year.
The $5 dog tax can be sold by a trustee, the county treasurer or a veterinarian. Each seller receives 75 cents of the fee. The trustee's share goes into the trustee account. The treasurer's cut goes into the general fund. A vet may keep his or her share.
Council President Harold Jones asked Mitchell to look into other counties' horse-drawn buggy and dog tax policies.
Councilman Bob Sanders agreed to serve on the promotional grant review committee and the product development grant task force for the Kosciuisko County Convention, Recreation, Visitors Commission.
The council also:
n Heard the rate for the county option income tax is .007 and the economic development income tax is at .003 for 2008.
n Heard a Vonage check for $83.32 has been received from the Association of Indiana Counties for the 911 account. Funding has diminished as people have switched to cell phone usage. Some cell phones have a small 911 fee attached, but most of that money goes to the state. At the end of the year, Mitchell said, the fund will be $50,000 short.
n Heard the State Department of Corrections has confirmed an amount of $49,560 for the county Misdemeanant Fund.
n Heard from attorney Rick Helm, who introduced a tax abatement resolution for NG Investment in Plain Township. The company plans to add an addition, at the cost of about $1 million, $3 million in equipment and add at least 10 jobs.
n Heard the county government week breakfast is April 27 in the Justice Building basement meeting room from 6 to 8 a.m.
n Agreed to a special meeting May 2 at 7 p.m. for a public hearing regarding the Bell Memorial Pubic Library capital projects fund.
n Heard the Association of Counties northeast district meeting will be May 3 at Bogey's Steak House.
Councilman Tom Anglin closed the meeting saying, "All of our county trustees are a big part of county government and no one works harder for the trustees than I do. I don't appreciate being labeled an enemy of the Prairie Township Trustee."
The next meeting is May 10 at 7 p.m.
Council members are: Jones, Anglin, Larry Teghtmeyer, John Kinsey, Brad Tandy, Charlene Knispel and Sanders.
