Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Kosciusko County Commissioners on Tuesday voted unanimously to take part in a new national opioid settlement.
In presenting it to the commissioners, county attorney Ed Ormsby said, “We have a new opioid settlement that has come that is titled the Six Remnant Defendants Settlement. It’s a new national opioid settlement that has been reached with six regional distributors, dispenser defendants.”
The six are Associated Pharmacies Inc. (and American Associated Pharmacies); JM Smith Corporation; Louisiana Wholesale Drug Company Inc.; Morris and Dickson Co.; North Carolina Mutual Wholesale Drug Company Inc.; and United Natural Foods Inc., including its subsidiaries SuperValu and Advantage Logistics.
“It’s in the total amount of $97,625,000,” Ormsby said. “The county is able to participate. The amount that the county would receive is not yet known. It would be subject to calculations and how many government entities participate in the settlement.”
He recommended the commissioners approve a signature for the settlement, pending his review of the settlement agreement, which will be forwarded to him shortly. The commissioners voted 3-0 to approve.
According to more information on the settlement provided by Ormsby via email, an eligible entity’s participation in the Remnant Defendants Settlement will result in a one-time settlement payment to each eligible entity. The settlement does not include state attorneys general or any amount allocated to a state. Rather, the settlement will be distributed only and directly to any eligible entity that participates by signing and returning the Combined Subdivision Participation and Release Form by the deadline.
The allocation to participating entities will be calculated using the national Denver model but removing from the equation any amount that the Denver model would allocate to a state attorney general or a state allocation. The interstate allocation formula will be used to calculate what amount should go to all the subdivisions in each state and then apply the intrastate allocation as between all subdivisions who are either a litigating subdivision or a non-litigating subdivision with a population of 30,000 or more, according to the information provided.
County Administrator Marsha McSherry gave the commissioners an update on the renovations at the county courthouse.
The next office that will be renovated will be the recorder’s office. McSherry said the recorder’s office will be located in the flex space in the east end of the hallway in the basement. The office will be moved out of its current location Friday afternoon and back by April 1.
Kosciusko County Emergency Management Agency Director Kip Shuter told the commissioners this is Severe Weather Preparedness Week for Indiana.
“It becomes extra important for what happened last Friday in lower Michigan. So, just to know and get that information out so people know where to go, what to do when strong storms present and tornadoes,” he said.
He reminded them that at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, March 10 there would be a statewide tornado drill exercise. Most locations throughout the state tested their sirens, including Kosciusko County. County government also had their tornado drill.
In other business, the commissioners approved:
• Superior Court I Judge Karin McGrath’s request to apply for the 2027 grant from the Indiana Office of Court Services through the Supreme Court for $123,750 for the Reentry Court. She said the amount is more than they were awarded for 2026, but “it doesn’t hurt to ask.”
She said she wished she had an entire hour to tell the commissioners about the “amazing things that are happening with the participants in Reentry Court. The lives being changed, truly impacting this community positively.”
• For Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith to sign the 2026 boat lease agreement with the Wawasee Property Owners Association Inc. for $1 per year, as presented by KCSO Lt. Mike Mulligan.
“In the past, Wawasee Lake Association has purchased boats and titled them over to the county. They would prefer to go with a lease scenario to where they lease us the boat for $1 a year. We will then register it in the county’s name and that would clean some things up,” Mulligan said.
Attorney Steve Snyder drew up the lease agreement, and Ormsby said he reviewed it.
• The purchase of a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee for $35,900 from N & J Auto Sales Inc., as requested by Mulligan, for the sheriff’s office detective/investigation division. Mulligan said the money was in their budget.
• A quote of $11,616.03 from Professional Food Equipment Services for the repair of the cooler unit in the kitchen at the Work Release Center, as presented by McSherry.
• A quote of $32,196.78 from Glosson-Hobart for the replacement of the 25-year-old tilt skillet at the county jail in the Justice Building, as presented by McSherry. The other quote was for $36,986.50 from Professional Food Equipment Services.
• County Surveyor Jim Moyer’s request to dispose of some 23-year-old equipment that is no longer serviceable. The equipment will be added to the next sheriff’s sale for auction.
• Director of Technology Eric Sorenson’s request for Garrit Winans, technology assistant, to travel to the CentralSquare Engage Conference for training. He will be going with staff from the KCSO.
Sorenson also introduced the commissioners to Andrea Mickley, the new IT support specialist in his office. It’s her second week on the job.
• The reappointment of Mike DeWald and Rosa Ritchie to the Lakeland Regional Sewer District for four-year terms, which will expire April 30, 2030, as requested by Jim Haney.
• Signing the stage three plans for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) 90/10 grant that the Kosciusko County Highway Department received for countywide signs replacement, as requested by Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty.
• An annual contract between the Area Plan Department and Emans Engineering for engineering services, as requested by County Auditor Alyssa Schmucker on behalf of Area Plan Director Matt Sandy.
The next commissioners meeting is at 9 a.m. March 24 in the old courtroom of the county courthouse.
