[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6147243,"mediaKeyId","5521668-4d816282f1cb4a0bd52ee6b370abe082","parentId",5521668,"title","County Highway to use Community Crossings grant for milling and major pipe replacement on Alto Road","audioSeconds",78,"startMs",3381000,"endMs",3459000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5521668-4d816282f1cb4a0bd52ee6b370abe082&start=3381&end=3459","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5521668-4d816282f1cb4a0bd52ee6b370abe082/thumbnail_3381000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6147243/Howard-County/Indiana/County-Highway-to-use-Community-Crossings-grant-for-milling-and-major-pipe-replacement-on-Alto-Road","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147243-013bddb2ab17f0a5b516f8e8c98de073/orig.mp4?Expires=1775091623&Signature=dAStcfiRvrwM302mdHIeD3f08UwnJ9im3uxyK4xIi6eQFvTzoizD-RLj3GBuUYuAv11m~Hs6K7SvQtrMGYY1Cfhqqm37Ubo3Y9Rls4iWYACEubGqWLWECKLtUXX8PFYI51v7FXn9c6w0U47guwTfk9d-zz9A2bfylFjtyb6jjB9RFf5QoQB6fBFteGFkS~XRG-J38lf63e7IMvaVVrbLQqKIM9u~1wTDXjxJDxFB53SHoOnQFfqhAq2HQzicNXGPVhQYK3yyC1mQX6Aj1aneprmAAa-WtPRPJPMQ7~TD~ufHzQtQEve4koYGRS8CvVCQlCuqqV8HC3z5-EnwxCK11Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Howard County, IN","date","2025-06-24T00:00:00Z","article","County Highway Superintendent Amber Toll told the Howard County Council that the department received Community Crossings matching grant funds and asked the council to appropriate those monies so resurfacing and milling projects can proceed.

Toll said crews have already started milling and repaving and are working on Alto Road, where an emergency replacement was required after a large elliptical culvert failed. She described the compromised structure as “7 foot tall and 12 foot wide” and said crews had set the first section of replacement pipe on the day of the meeting; she expected to have that piece set by week’s end and then proceed with patching, guardrail and other repairs.

The appropriation will place the grant match into the correct line items so the county can invoice and use the funds. Toll said the size of the Alto Road structure made the emergency replacement logistically challenging and that the highway department has learned from the work as it proceeds.

The council approved the additional appropriation for highway projects as part of its broader vote on appropriations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Howard County Council Meeting - 6/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","County Highway requested appropriation of Community Crossings matching funds to support milling and resurfacing projects; officials said workers have begun milling and that an emergency replacement of a 7‑by‑12‑foot elliptical pipe on Alto Road is underway.","taxTitle","Howard County, Indiana","taxId",26297,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6147247,"Council okays vehicle purchase, 911 payment and staff bonus for sheriff’s office",94,2926000,3020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5521668-4d816282f1cb4a0bd52ee6b370abe082&start=2926&end=3020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5521668-4d816282f1cb4a0bd52ee6b370abe082/thumbnail_2926000.jpg","/articles/6147247/Howard-County/Indiana/Council-okays-vehicle-purchase-911-payment-and-staff-bonus-for-sheriffs-office","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147247-75a1aa3dac7b47195248ab6bc485b16b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775091623&Signature=Ro~1TsKN~~pqpMBx9qz2Cd9F6EZB9v6Ls6p70mmZR4TeKjqQzDryrCrRFZYSkiiqFxBkkfj1Q-ZpJhJuwl2euHD8sifSmTfciZ7HifhVM1DE51bS0BbyhEcW0S3rlhF2egi~0saY1JU2Nm8pxXKzn6mrPeOoPM~olrtfCflEfy2h6oKrs~-u7d2-SlJOoVGWqa~vQZt522J-Am2FPuVcTaIvUMK3z7gZbjMoWl9b96IX7qqw6qxu~9bJKGzcR~SucLJvk3cIvVD4wzYYIFWRrJ4pDYxLn3KCBcDDGyuuZEjXiVk1BcVdEpHJdXTXE2T6EBKJptNoSSb1G4loaCwcpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Major Cook, speaking for Sheriff Fasher, asked the council to approve several appropriations from special purpose funds: a lateral transfer bonus and related payroll taxes for a corrections hire, funds to purchase a transport van out of the misdemeanor fund, and payment for a five‑year communications obligation from the statewide 9‑1‑1 fund.

Major Cook said the department had identified a transport vehicle equipped with audio, video and HVAC systems and requested $70,000 be appropriated from the misdemeanor fund to buy and outfit the van and transfer existing security equipment into it. He noted the misdemeanor fund has been used for jail‑related purchases and that there are restrictions but it can support corrections equipment and vehicles.

On statewide 9‑1‑1 funding, Cook asked the council to appropriate about $171,000 to pay a bill tied to a five‑year life cycle for dispatch consoles, and to add roughly $29,000 as a cushion for repairs and future needs. The total statewide 9‑1‑1 fund request in the meeting package was $200,000; Cook said consoles had received hardware and monitor upgrades and that the county receives this funding annually from the state.

Council members asked clarifying questions about allowable uses of the misdemeanor fund and whether the statewide 9‑1‑1 expenditure had been included in prior budgets; Cook said the communications line item was a five‑year obligation and that some upgrades were already installed. The appropriation was approved by the council as part of the meeting’s additional appropriations vote.

The council recorded no roll‑call vote in the transcript during the combined appropriations motion; the purchases will proceed subject to normal procurement processes and any applicable fund restrictions.","The council approved appropriations to the sheriff’s office for a lateral transfer bonus, a new transport vehicle from the misdemeanor fund and payment toward a five‑year statewide 9‑1‑1 communications bill.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6147252,"Judge cites drop in jail population, urges probation reforms as Unified Courts funds reallocated",630,2360000,2990000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5521668-4d816282f1cb4a0bd52ee6b370abe082&start=2360&end=2990","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5521668-4d816282f1cb4a0bd52ee6b370abe082/thumbnail_2360000.jpg","/articles/6147252/Howard-County/Indiana/Judge-cites-drop-in-jail-population-urges-probation-reforms-as-Unified-Courts-funds-reallocated","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147252-fee0f1d7ab3824b5e982f000f9fe846a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775091623&Signature=W9KF-ZVhePfMJDo-HfVTop3kT~My~7H1ny-E8rozdP4isBOOgFUyAGqewHsm5EGBJc-QJrWKbv7AN0DtDDH7ty7ivtEdqx1mfizfTka6MiAtwVAQh6e4~A9qpL98Ow8LDBiboiLgSarQQOZnF4NpNrT8p~aXKkmSBVZH2OgKKX6LIWTKeg2zBhrIB2oClMEKUl-hfuIRpU280FDC56WFmOi5gtysxQ5aZX5feoNNHFsQNws7-oH8xk-DIDL1atwro4axEAzSahCfwB~xJMudBVzaiWeVGYaJV23nTqeHqishxqm3~zcrTQJbQuY0UHgR1pH-qrCSi1juvywRnBRqCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Judge Elkins asked the Howard County Council to reallocate unspent Unified Courts Fund fees so juvenile court and probation can use remaining monies from a prior allocation; the council approved the additional appropriation as part of the meeting’s appropriations business.

Elkins told the council the number of defendants in Superior Court 1 fell from about 128 to 41 in recent months and said the average number of jail days had dropped dramatically, from more than 500 days to roughly 53.46 days in her court. She credited collaborative scheduling and changes in how level‑6 felonies are routed as key management steps.

“We put the level sixes back in the courts” rather than into magistrate dockets, Elkins said, and that change helped reduce backlog. She described coordinated work among judges, prosecutors and public defenders to move cases.

Elkins also raised concerns about probation practices and recidivism, saying a large share of local probation cases fail: “We have a 98 percent fail rate in Howard County,” she said, characterizing that outcome as evidence the current approach is creating repeat offenders rather than preventing reoffending. She urged the council and stakeholders to consider evidence‑based practices in probation and to examine how probation affects overall court throughput.

The council approved the Unified Courts appropriation (the request reallocated about $43,000 placed into the Unified Courts Fund the prior year), along with other additional appropriations, by motion and voice vote. Elkins said the money would allow juvenile court and probation offices to expend previously budgeted items that were unused in 2024.

Elkins provided context on caseload volume, saying the typical number of felony cases filed in a given year is between 290 and 320, and that reducing backlog required reassigning certain matters and increasing coordination across court staff.

The judge’s remarks were delivered during the appropriations portion of the council meeting and tied funding clarifications to operational reforms in case routing and probation oversight.","Judge Elkins requested reauthorization of leftover Unified Courts Fund money; she said efforts since she took office reduced jailed defendants and time in custody but raised concerns about probation practices and caseflow management.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6147256,"Howard County Council approves funding for prosecutor staff amid staffing shortfall",2107,242000,2349000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5521668-4d816282f1cb4a0bd52ee6b370abe082&start=242&end=2349","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5521668-4d816282f1cb4a0bd52ee6b370abe082/thumbnail_242000.jpg","/articles/6147256/Howard-County/Indiana/Howard-County-Council-approves-funding-for-prosecutor-staff-amid-staffing-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147256-3ac74bd81ed8b8a26e7bd0c323a2b66f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775091623&Signature=NNgOKhhf0OgwI1YN-GOS1gZSmojN-ZCdbjEsozkcXNKfNxXP6onYZw2dum5eZXxJjwO0pHIAq1RnIqWeLFvax4rSoKQs-qLJO-XQGiE~PU-XQSc6ClQjF0gzFlHE4uZGW13l1iQ2gNdxc~qBuIbUse7sm-~nNbXdv15F-kyd5A1wfi30odwdmPmzUq-LAYFHFPcI9T89NyosIClnnbsMFchWwEPk3QqmlHbVyRNrWjCfVFX2qPTkXc3wbLBdKl7FZweUdKpeTGUrI3GvJGSvZ4ff1vVvV2ycyiBaIqrL23tlABTzKvmKKMzHdZM0rmrYlDcsrsWbvRpLGKFICpYb2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Howard County Prosecutor Mark McCann urged the County Council to approve additional staff for his office, saying shortages are slowing case processing; the council voted to fund three part-time deputy prosecutors, one full‑time investigator and one full‑time criminal enforcement clerk for this year.

McCann told the council his office is “approximately 10 short” of the number of deputies the 2019 caseload study recommended and that the shortfall has “impacted our ability to prosecute cases in a timely and efficient manner.” He said major prosecutions have been supported by law enforcement but that lesser matters have suffered from lack of staff.

The request, presented during the council’s additional appropriations item, was discussed at length by council members who asked about recruitability and timing. McCann said he had already advertised several openings and expected to be able to fill part‑time prosecutor slots “within 60 days” if approved, and that investigators are often filled by retired law‑enforcement candidates. He said part‑time roles are more attractive because of flexibility, including the option for remote work.

Council members moved and seconded a revised, smaller package than the prosecutor’s full request; they added language to adjust FICA and PERF amounts to match the number of positions approved. The council voted by voice and approved the positions for the current year only; the action does not automatically change the 2026 budget.

McCann emphasized his office’s prosecutorial standards while explaining the request: “If you steal $5, it’s still theft. If you possess marijuana in Howard County, it’s still a crime, and we still enforce those every day,” he said, adding that the shortage has affected efficiency rather than policy about which crimes to pursue.

Council members and McCann also discussed hiring challenges. McCann said full‑time positions are harder to fill than part‑time slots, and that recruiting often depends on staff recommendations rather than advertising alone. He described some recent retirements and replacements and said the office’s new case‑management software will streamline document handling.

The council’s motion approved three part‑time deputy prosecutors, one full‑time investigator and one full‑time criminal enforcement clerk, with payroll taxes and PERF adjusted to the actual hires; the motion was approved by voice vote. The appropriation covers this fiscal year only; McCann said he will also pursue staffing through the PAC (budget) committee and the 2026 budgeting process.

The vote followed public council procedure for additional appropriations and included brief clarifications about how FICA and PERF contributions would be adjusted to the number of employees funded.","The council approved funding for three part-time deputy prosecutors, one full-time investigator and one full-time criminal enforcement clerk for the prosecutor’s office, after hearing Prosecutor Mark McCann describe a staffing gap and hiring challenges.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County Highway to use Community Crossings grant for milling and major pipe replacement on Alto Road

Council okays vehicle purchase, 911 payment and staff bonus for sheriff’s office

Judge cites drop in jail population, urges probation reforms as Unified Courts funds reallocated

Howard County Council approves funding for prosecutor staff amid staffing shortfall