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Instead of the Kosciusko County Probation Department working out of the judges’ budgets, work is being done to give the department their own.
Kosciusko County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Buehler told the County Council Thursday he and the other judges were before them because they still have the issue they’re trying to work through of what exactly the Supplement Probation User Fee can be used for. The issue was brought to everyone’s attention several months ago, he said.
“After discussion with the auditor’s office, we thought that the most appropriate measure to ask to do from this council was to initiate a budget that’s strictly just for the probation department, so it’s no longer a part of the courts’ budgets on some part so we can actually keep much better record of what we’ve done,” Buehler said, thanking County Auditor Alyssa Schmucker and Chief Deputy Becky Dye for their work in helping to think about what a budget for the probation department would look like.
“So we’re here today, initially, to ask for your blessing and your permission to begin that process to set up those other funds that are going to be strictly just a probation budget, that’s not going to be a part of our budget,” Buehler said. “What those numbers actually look like, we’re still working towards that.”
He said they’ve got some inquiries in to the state and their general counsel from the Indiana Supreme Court as to what ultimately they will use those funds for.
“We don’t have those answers for you here today, but we thought the important first step was to get approval for a separate budget for probation. We’re asking you to consider that tonight,” Buehler said.
Councilwoman Kimberly Cates stated, “That’s excellent!”
Council President Tony Ciriello said Tuesday morning Schmucker, Dye, the judges, Chief Probation Officer Tammy Johnston and he sat down together and discussed removing the probation budget out of the courts’ budget and giving them their own county general fund budget.
“So this is the first step in that process, approving the creation of that fund, and then we’ll come back in the March meeting and talk about transferring the money around,” Ciriello said.
Cates made the motion to approve the request, with Councilman Joe Irwin seconding the motion. It passed 6-0, with Councilman Dave Wolkins absent.
In other business, the council approved:
• For Community Corrections Director James Henry to apply for a $350,755 Indiana Department of Correction grant and a $90,000 IDOC grant for the Drug Court. He said they apply for the grants every year and the grants keep Community Corrections afloat as they don’t use any taxpayer dollars. The county commissioners previously approved the grant applications.
• Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chris McKeand’s request to apply for a $15,000 Indiana Department of Natural Resources Marine Patrol grant. The county has participated in the grant for many years.
• Two appropriation adjustment requests that will go into the KCSO insurance reimbursement fund, as requested by McKeand. One was for $1,156.65 for a 2021 Ford Explorer that was involved in a sideswipe collision, and the other was for $5,469.71 for a 2020 Ford Explorer that hit a deer.
• An additional appropriation for $4,000, as requested by McKeand. The funds are from Comprehensive Hoosier Highway’s Injury Reduction Program (CHHIRP), a state program where the sheriff’s office does extra traffic enforcement patrol. The county has received the grant for years.
The council also reviewed the fourth quarter KCSO commissary report, as presented by Sheriff Jim Smith and Cheryl McGettrick, financial administrator.
• Two appropriation adjustment requests for insurance reimbursement, as presented by Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty. One was for $2,739.55 for truck #6, the department’s distributor, that had a tire blow that affected the rim; the other was for $23,979.59 for truck 69 that had a snowplow incident with a corner post. The reimbursement funds will go back into the local road and street repairs and maintenance account.
• An additional appropriation for $61,062 in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund for administrative expenses, as requested by County Administrator Marsha McSherry. She said the funds needed to be moved from 2025 to 2026 so those bills can be paid. “This is the final year for ARPA. At the end of this year, everything will be closed out,” she said.
• An additional appropriation of $19,500 for the Hazardous Materials and Emergency Preparedness Grant from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, as requested by Emergency Management Agency Director Kip Shuter.
Shuter also presented his 2025 EMS year-end report.
• A transfer for $11,000 from building and equipment repairs to winter ice melt, as requested by McSherry. She said they’ve used a lot of pallets due to the weather they’re having and they’re having trouble getting more salt, but they’ve found six pallets. On average, if it snows like it has been, she said they use four to five pallets a week.
• Two 2026 salary ordinance amendments as presented by Auditor’s Office Chief Deputy Becky Dye. She said they were just due to wording as one salary ordinance for a public defender should have said salary not hourly and the other one for a part-time truck driver hourly rate should have said LTC4 not LTC6.
• The appointment of Justin A. Beer to the Milford Public Library Board. His term will be through Jan. 31, 2030.
The council also heard from North Webster property owner and County Council District 1 candidate Thaddeus Du Bois about the Tippecanoe Chapman Sewer District and the East Webster sewer extension, which he opposes.
Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe gave the council her 2025 fourth quarter report, which she also previously gave to the county commissioners.
She invited the council members to the open house for Claypool’s strategic planning session at 6 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Claypool Lions Club building.
Sidney also is completing their strategic planning session at 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at the volunteer fire station.
No RSVP is required for either session, the public is invited and pulled pork and sides will be provided.
