Health, EMS and emergency-management updates: coordinators named, training scheduled and four dwellings declared unfit
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Summary
The Clinton County Health Department, EMA and Central Dispatch reported grant administration updates, named preparedness coordinators, declared four dwellings unfit for habitation and outlined multiple training events; motions to endorse coordinators and to donate a 2005 vehicle to a firefighter training class carried.
Health department and emergency-management officials provided a series of program and operational updates at the Oct. 7 meeting.
Melissa (Health Department) reported that the county’s Public Health Emergency Planning (PEF) grant had been signed by the state and that the county’s Board of Health designated two preparedness coordinators required by the grant: Rodney Juan as primary and Corina Martinez as backup. The health director requested the commissioners’ endorsement of those appointments; a commissioner moved to endorse and the motion carried 2‑0.
Melissa also said the county had forfeited $22,000 the prior year for failing to fill required coordinator positions and that filling them was a top priority to avoid losing funds going forward. She reported that public-health staff had recently declared four dwellings unfit for human habitation because of sanitation or lack of utilities; locations cited in the meeting included Center Township (two dwellings), Perry Township (one dwelling) and Ross (one dwelling). The department said it is pursuing remediation services where possible and will use the county condemnation process when necessary.
Renee Grant (Central Dispatch / EMA) described training-center needs at the EMA facility and requested up to $2,000 from her budget to finish a fourth concrete side of the training area; she said the county has funds available and recommended completing the project to keep the facility in service. Commissioners agreed and staff were authorized to proceed.
EMA/Central Dispatch also asked permission to donate a 2005 Chevy Malibu—donated to the county in 2019 and now unserviceable—to a firefighter 1-and-2 class for extrication training; staff said Marsha holds the title and the class will remove the vehicle when training is complete. Commissioners approved the donation by motion and second; the motion carried.
Emergency-management staff described a required five-year update to the county’s FEMA multi-hazard mitigation plan and said the first public meeting with the POLIS Center at IUPUI is scheduled for Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. at the Frankfort Police Department. The county also outlined an active-shooter training schedule for October and November: a didactic lecture on Oct. 17 at Frankfort Police Department, hands-on simulations Oct. 18–19 at Rossville High School, and repeat sessions Oct. 31–Nov. 2 to allow wider staff participation. Renee said the Denise Amber Lee Foundation will present additional dispatch training on a Friday after the meeting.
Coroner Ed Scribe requested modest county funding to install a donated door; commissioners authorized use of county resources to cover a reported $1,500–$1,700 cost and the motion carried 2‑0. Ed Scribe was also congratulated for receiving the 2025 Association of Indiana Counties outstanding coroner award.
Taken together, the items covered grants, staffing requirements tied to state funding, building and training investments, property condemnations for public-health reasons and several near-term training events for first responders.