Kosciusko County commissioners approved a slate of grant applications, highway project requests and information-technology purchases at their meeting, and heard informational briefings on the federal Veterans Affairs shutdown and a Lifewise school program and film screening.

The commissioners formally approved a $342,532 grant agreement for Community Corrections and authorized multiple interlocal and grant requests across county departments. The board also authorized the county to apply for Community Crossings funding for two local road segments and approved an emergency IT purchase to replace a vulnerable firewall.

Why this matters: The actions secure outside funding, set up road work that affects local traffic and commit county funds to match state grant awards. The IT approvals address an identified cybersecurity vulnerability. The informational items addressed public services for veterans and a local faith-based education program in county schools.

Most significant approvals

Community Corrections grant: The board approved a grant agreement for Community Corrections totaling $342,532 and authorized the county auditor to sign related documents electronically.

Community Crossings application and county match: County Highway Superintendent Steve asked permission to apply for Community Crossings 2025 funding for two paving segments: Packardin Road (from Sarah Drive to 800 South) and Armstrong Road (from the bridge at Oswego to Old State Road 15). He said the program is a 50/50 match up to $1 million. The board also approved a financial commitment letter intended to guarantee the county's match; during the meeting the amount stated for that letter was recorded in the transcript as "2,057,000, $63.15." The transcript phrasing appears to contain a formatting or transcription error; the board approved the commitment as presented.

Sheriff: KCODE participation and funding request: Sheriff Chris asked permission to participate in KCODE for 2026 and requested funding to offset budgets for three areas he named: DARE, the enforcement division and JCAP. In the meeting he described the request as "a total of 21,000 at $100." The board voted to approve the request as presented.

IT/security purchases: County administration reported a recently discovered firewall vulnerability and said the county made an emergency purchase from J and K Communications to replace the firewall; the amount recorded in the meeting was $14,855.10. Eric, the system administrator, presented two quotes from GovConnection: one described as a five-year renewal with new hardware for $121,907 (for servers and domain controllers) and a second quote for moving the current hypervisor to the highway department plus two years of software support. The presenter’s figure for the second quote was unclear in the transcript; the commissioners approved both items as presented.

Highway bidding schedule and openings: Steve asked permission to advertise annual highway bids. He said the ads would run Oct. 8 and Oct. 15, bids would open Nov. 18 and awards would be made Dec. 2 if documentation was in order. He also announced two openings for projects: Old 30 expected to reopen at the end of the day next Monday, and the Husky Trail bridge expected to open Nov. 30.

EMA/hazardous materials grants and LEPC requests: Kip, identified as DMA (emergency management) director, said several Indiana Department of Homeland Security grant opportunities opened. He described an Emergency Management Performance Grant (which pays 50% of EMA office salaries), a Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grant (which he corrected during the meeting from $20,000 to $30,000), funds for an LEPC tabletop exercise and a hazardous materials commodity flow study. He also said the LEPC asked him to seek up to $16,000 from the Kasayasu Community Foundation for a spill mitigation trailer and equipment. The board approved seeking and accepting the grants as presented.

Solid waste and tourism interlocal agreements; audit engagement: County Auditor Alyssa presented a 2026 interlocal agreement to act as controller for solid waste with an annual fee of $10,000; the board approved it. She also presented an interlocal agreement with the Kosciusko County Convention & Visitors Commission (KCCRVC) related to innkeepers tax administration and an audit engagement letter for the Kosciusko Visitors Center Bureau; the board approved the documents and allowed signing after a date correction on the engagement cover letter.

VA regional office and veterans services update (informational): Daryl (veterans services) briefed the commissioners about the ongoing federal VA shutdown impacts. He said the GI Bill hotline and the VA regional benefits office were closed, which will affect new applicants and access to claim status information. He emphasized that VA health care facilities and outpatient clinics (including Fort Wayne and Marion locations) and the veterans crisis line (dial 988, press 1) remain operational; benefits for veterans already in the system will continue according to the briefing.

Lifewise presentation and local screening: A Lifewise representative told the commissioners the organization has started a fourth-grade class at Jefferson School and plans to expand after the holiday break. The presenter also promoted a film titled Off School Property, which the transcript said will have a one-night showing in Warsaw at Northpointe Cinema on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.; tickets were described as available through Lifewise’s website and the theater.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes and claims: motion carried (vote recorded as "aye").
- Sheriff: permission to participate in KCODE for 2026 and funding request: approved (vote recorded as "aye").
- Highway: permission to advertise bids (Oct. 8 and Oct. 15), open bids Nov. 18, award Dec. 2: approved (vote recorded as "aye").
- Community Crossings application for Packardin Road and Armstrong Road and financial commitment letter: approved (vote recorded as "aye"); transcript records the commitment amount as "2,057,000, $63.15."
- Emergency firewall purchase (J and K Communications): approved (vote recorded as "aye"); amount given as $14,855.10.
- GovConnection quotes for hypervisor/hardware renewal and related software support: approved (vote recorded as "aye"); first quote reported as $121,907; second quote amount unclear in transcript.
- EMA/IDHS grant applications and Kasayasu Community Foundation request (spill mitigation trailer up to $16,000): approved (vote recorded as "aye").
- Community Corrections grant agreement ($342,532): approved (vote recorded as "aye").
- Interlocal agreements: solid waste controller fee ($10,000), KCCRVC agreements and audit engagement letter: approved (vote recorded as "aye").

Attributions and clarifications

Direct quotations in this report come from meeting remarks on the record. Several dollar amounts and one financial-commitment figure recorded in the transcript contain phrasing that appears to be a transcription or formatting error; those are noted in the body and in clarifying details rather than being restated as precise totals.

Looking ahead: The commissioners adjourned after scheduling their next meeting for Oct. 21 and after hearing the remaining departmental reports and recognitions.