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Members of the Kosciusko County Board of Health voted to take a conservative approach with the use of its capital reserve fund following a request by Liz McCulloch, Health First Kosciusko coordinator, Monday.
McCulloch requested $15,000 in additional funding through use of the capital reserve funds be given to Kosciusko Clubhouse. She explained when Health First was started, 10% was to be held back as a capital reserve for improvements for the health department. Upon checking with the Indiana Department of Health, McCulloch learned those funds could be used for other purposes, thus the request for The Clubhouse.
The Clubhouse is a place where individuals with mental illness can feel like part of a community, have a sense of meaning and purpose and more. The funds would be used by The Clubhouse for programs to have more of an impact.
The decision not to disperse the funds, following a lengthy discussion, gave McCulloch guidance for the future. The decision did not mean the topic could not be revisited in the future.
Dr. Eric Waldo, county health officer, expressed the desire to treat the reserve as a 401K. Allowing the county to have "money set aside for funding if it becomes necessary."
Dr. Dennis Woodward, DVM, board chairman, questioned how many times in the past has that happened, which it was noted never has there been an issue where funds were needed, besides COVID.
Bob Weaver, health department administrator, commented the 10% is a small amount of money, but there are some other things the health department would like to see, such as a lab. He did note there were other sources of funding for such a project available.
This would be the second year for the 10% going into a capital reserve fund.
McCulloch stated the use of the funds would make a major impact of what The Clubhouse was going to see, with Woodward noting it would be money well spent. He added there are plenty of ways to spend the funds. "This came up and it would be a lot of money for them," he added.
During the pro and con discussion, Waldo stayed steady in his desire to take the conservative approach, despite McCulloch's comment of the more money spent (on a program) the more it will have an impact. The other board members agreed.
During other matters pertaining to Health First, McCulloch presented seven proposals for memorandums of understanding. Two of the proposals were projects implemented prior to the process changes. All seven MOUs were approved. These were:
• A reimbursement for AED, cabinet and pads purchased by Fellowship Missions in the amount of $2,087.
• Reimbursement to Wawasee Community Schools for six AEDs and 10 sets of pads for district schools in the amount of $13,626.
• Payment to 1Eighty Digital for social media marketing services for Early Start Prenatal Clinic in the amount of $4,860.
• Stop the Bleed Kits for Warsaw, Wawasee and Tippecanoe Valley high schools, Pierceton Elementary, Lakeland Christian Academy, Sacred Heart and the school health liaison for training purposes. The amount was $6,656.
• Approved the proposal of $48,878.20 for the Kosciusko County Food Security Coalition (Live Well Kosciusko). The funds would go for food security initiatives including a SNAP coordinator, Double Up Food Bucks, Food As Medicine and Meating the Need at pantries. All the initiatives address Health First Kosciusko's heart disease program.
• Approved $15,000 for Kosciusko County Clubhouse (Live Well Kosciusko) to improve mental health outcomes by enhancing care for residents with mental illness, decrease suicide rates, address substance misuse and referrals to medical care.
• Approved $12,005 for YMCA Indoor fitness for the Active Older Adults in Rural Communities program. While the program runs October 2025 through April 2026, the amount was for the current year. Programs will be presented in Milford, Pierceton and Mentone. It will serve 15 participants per location and is a partnership with Purdue Extension to provide "A Matter of Balance" program, which addresses fall prevention. It also addresses HFK's heart disease program.
During other business, Weaver reported the county health departments budget is ready to go before the Kosciusko County Commissioners and County Council. He noted nothing in the budget has changed very much, which it rarely does.
The next meeting of the board will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 27 in the old courtroom on the third floor of the Kosciusko County Courthouse.
