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Grants often help government pay for things that tax dollars won’t or can’t cover.
Thursday night, the Kosciusko County Council heard about a couple grant requests from the Kosciusko County Parks and Recreation Board and the county’s technology director.
Parks Board President Rob Bishop requested permission to apply for an Accelerator Grant for $20,000.
“So about three weeks ago, we received word from MACOG (Michiana Area Council of Governments) that there was a possibility of an Accelerator Grant for the trail system,” he said. “The purpose of an Accelerator Grant is to do the work that allows you to then apply for the big money grant to actually build a trail system. So, in this case, it’s a $20,000 grant where we would have a $20,000 required match.”
The deadline to get the grant in was Friday, Nov. 14. Bishop said they have done the grant application as fast as they could, based upon when the Parks Board heard it was available. The county commissioners approved the grant application and a letter at their meeting Nov. 4.
“Since that period of time, we started reaching out to people and we already have commitments of $7,500 of the required $20,000 match. The commissioners clearly did not want us to use tax dollars for this, and we understand that. However, it’s still necessary to get your approval even though we don’t believe we’re going to be using tax dollars,” Bishop said.
The selected focus of the grant is the proposed trail to go from Winona Lake to Pierceton. He said they have letters of support from the towns of Winona Lake and Pierceton. Pierceton has allocated $5,000 toward the required $20,000 match. They also have other letters of support.
“I think this is something the community is very much behind, so if we get the grant, when we’re done, we’re going to know where the trail is going to go and what it’s going to cost us to build it, to allow us to go get another grant, to then start actually building trail,” Bishop stated.
Councilwoman Rachael Rhoades asked for a clarification how much has been allocated so far toward the match. Bishop said the Kosciusko County Community Foundation has allocated $2,500 and Pierceton is in for $5,000. Since they won’t be using any tax dollars toward the match, Bishop said if they don’t raise the full $20,000 match, they won’t go forward with it.
Rhoades asked what the plans were to raise the rest of the required match. Bishop said there were a number of organizations and foundations that will help out with it, but they also have $10,000 in the Friends of the Parks fund at the Community Foundation that, if they have to, they could use. That would put them at $17,500.
The council unanimously approved the grant application request.
Later in the meeting, Kosciusko Community Coordinator Amy Roe said she has an email that they have $10,000 potentially from a foundation. Additionally, the town of Winona Lake is looking at putting $2,500 to $5,000 toward the grant match.
“So, I think we have most of the money for that,” she said.
Eric Sorensen, county technology director, asked for permission to apply for the 2026 Court Reform Grant for $40,000. He said the money will go toward technology in Judge Karin McGrath’s courtroom.
“We’re kind of using her courtroom as a (model), get her all set up. Get new speakers, some new technology overhaul. It’s long overdue. Some of the stuff in there is original when the building was built, so we’re trying to streamline and improve things in the courtroom. So we’re going to start with her,” he said.
The county commissioners previously approved the grant application. While the grant is for $40,000, Sorensen said the rest of the costs would come out of his department’s hardware budget in 2026.
McGrath explained, “Our circular courtrooms are particularly problematic, so that’s mine and also Judge (Matthew) Buehler’s courtroom. And I think just because of the nature of the cases that I hear, there’s a lot of opportunity for better technology in my courtroom and it’s a good guinea pig place to start with some better technology.”
Currently, she said they don’t know day to day whether the technology in her courtroom is going to work.
“So whatever efforts IT is expending and trying to expend on our behalf to make this more seamless and also open up some other opportunities for using technology in really meaningful and more efficient ways, it’s much appreciated,” McGrath stated.
Sorensen said they were trying to simplify things.
The council applied for Sorensen to apply for the advance grant for $40,000.
In other business, the council approved:
• Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty’s request to apply for an 80/20 federal grant for $3.85 million for bridge 145. The county’s portion of that total amount would be $814,000. The bridge construction would be in 2031. Bridge 145 is on CR 600W over Trammel Creek.
A financial commitment letter also was approved.
• Two appropriation adjustments for checks that the county received from its auto insurance company as payment for claims for damaged vehicles, as requested by Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Financial Administrator Cheryl McGettrick on behalf of Sheriff Jim Smith. The checks were for $1,000 for a deductible reimbursement because the other party was at fault, and $27,767 for sheriff’s vehicle that was totaled.
She also presented, and the council approved, the third quarter commissary report, which included the month of October. The fourth quarter report will include just November and December.
• The 2026 council meeting dates and additional budget hearing dates.
• Ratifying the Tippecanoe-Chapman Regional Sewer District appointments from December 2023. The auditor’s office could not find the signed certificates when they were requested.
• Affirming 2026 grant funds for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in the amount of $24,000. This is the county’s amount for a matching grant from the state. The amount was approved in the 2026 budget for the Circuit and Superior I and IV courts.
The council heard:
• The third quarter Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) report for 2025 from Roe.
• About the Kosciusko Student Venture Challenge Program from Roe and Warsaw teacher Scott Green. The program was highlighted and chosen through the HELP.
Roe said the program grew from having two schools with 23 students in the first year to five schools and 43 students in this year and then to six schools and 60 students.
• From Councilwoman Kathy Groninger that Main Street Warsaw launched a Downtown Cultural Arts District Planning Process in April. The plans will be announced to the community at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19 at the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce. There will be an open house afterward from 4 to 6 p.m., she said.
She also announced the council will be asked to vote on a new abatement policy at their December meeting. It was put together by the abatement committee.
• From McGrath that Brandon Warren will be the first graduate of the Reentry Court. The graduation ceremony is set for 9 a.m. Nov. 26 in Superior Court I.
She also introduced new Community Corrections Director James Henry. He previously served as a deputy warden for the Indiana Department of Corrections.
• From Council President Tony Ciriello that the Kosciusko County Fire Association will have an informational meeting featuring Baker Tilly at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 24 in the multi-purpose room in the basement of the Justice Building. It’s to explore options to maintain fire and rescue services in the county in the event of township government reform.
The next council meeting will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 9 in the old courtroom of the county courthouse.
