Henry County approves opioid funds for two women’s recovery programs; board clears multiple routine purchases and upgrades

Henry County commissioners on April 20 approved opioid grant funding for two local women’s recovery programs and cleared a slate of county purchases, construction change orders and vehicle disposals.

The board voted unanimously, 3-0, to award $36,000 now to the Henry County Women's Recovery Center and to require a three-month progress update before considering the second half of a requested $72,000. The board also approved a $65,000 request to complete interior repairs on the Williams House for Hagar’s Hope recovery housing; that request followed a presentation by Hope Initiative, the group's fiscal agent.

The opioid funding decisions came after program representatives described services and capacity. A representative of the women's recovery program said the center launched in November, has enrolled eight women to date and currently houses four. The presenter described a new structured, three-phase six-month curriculum intended to monitor participation, drug screenings and homework before advancing a resident to the next phase. She said scholarship funding would be used to cover client costs and that the program’s current capacity limit is 12 residents.

Nan Polk, president of Hope Initiative, told commissioners Hagar’s Hope has been operating temporarily at the Bennett House since May of last year while volunteers and contractors renovate the donated Williams House. Polk said volunteers and discounted contractor work have completed exterior stabilization — new siding, windows and roof — and that the organization expects to complete about $15,000 in volunteer-funded work and needs $65,000 to finish interior electrical and plumbing work. Polk said two residents had graduated from the program, both employed, and that volunteers and local churches had provided significant in-kind support.

Commissioners and staff said the vetting committee recommended splitting the women’s recovery center request: half now and half after a progress report. The board’s motion followed that recommendation. The board recorded the motions and votes on each item and approved other departmental requests during the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes of previous meeting — motion carried 3-0. - Approve claims — motion carried 3-0. - Approve payroll — motion carried 3-0. - Accept clerk’s monthly report — motion carried 3-0. - Accept weights and measures monthly report — motion carried 3-0. - Accept IT monthly report — motion carried 3-0. - Accept RDC report (reporter absent) — motion carried 3-0. - Henry County Women’s Recovery Center — award $36,000 now (of an up-to $72,000 request); require a three-month progress update; motion carried 3-0. - Hagar’s Hope/Williams House (Hope Initiative) — award $65,000 to complete interior repairs; motion carried 3-0. - Approve sale/disposition of eight surplus vehicles to vendor(s), contingent on staff finalizing terms with county buyer (Joel to work with vendor); motion carried 3-0. - Approve Piney quote $9,839 to replace failed gray-water sewage injection pump (backup pump in place) — motion carried 3-0. - Approve W.R. Duncan change order: wood floor mock-up ~$3,662.40 — motion carried 3-0. - Approve W.R. Duncan change order: remove handrail extension, net savings ~$27,292 — motion carried 3-0. - Approve two IT purchases: network-monitoring software/license $14,891.25 and additional network-attached storage (96 TB) $8,737.01 — motion carried 3-0. - Renew Optum managed transplant/critical care benefit plan (no increase to employee premiums) — motion carried 3-0. - Adopt resolution authorizing filing of CY2026 Federal Transit Act grant application for livestream services — motion carried 3-0.

Why it matters

The opioid funding will directly support two county recovery programs that serve women in residential treatment and transitional housing. Commissioners attached oversight in the form of a three-month progress report for the Women’s Recovery Center before releasing the second half of its request. The county also approved IT and backup purchases the county said are needed to improve network monitoring and preserve county data, and it authorized disposal of older fleet vehicles to recover funds for the general fund.

Details and context

The women’s recovery program representative said scholarships paid from the requested funds would go toward client services, not general facility overhead, and that the program is pursuing self-sustaining revenue through an online storefront. The program’s new model defines three eight-week phases within a six-month structure; residents must meet attendance, homework and drug-screening criteria to advance.

Polk of Hope Initiative said the Williams House required extensive remediation after being donated in poor condition; volunteers and discounted contractors performed much of the exterior work. Hope Initiative said it expects to complete roughly $15,000 of interior work with volunteers and sought $65,000 to finish electrical and plumbing work based on contractor bids.

On the surplus vehicles, the sheriff’s office presented eight vehicles dating from model years 2012–2020 and reported an offer of roughly $37,000 from a fleet buyer. County staff noted state procurement rules for selling multiple items over $5,000 may require public notice and asked for authority to finalize the disposition consistent with statute; commissioners approved the sale contingent on staff completing required procedures and finalizing terms.

On IT, the county described two prioritized purchases: a network-monitoring software package intended to speed diagnosis of outages and a 96-terabyte network attached storage device to expand backups and weekly rotation. The auditor’s office said funds were available in the IT improvement budget.

What’s next

Commissioners required the Women’s Recovery Center to provide a three-month update before releasing the second $36,000 installment. Staff will follow up on vehicle-disposal procurement rules and finalize sale contracts if statutory requirements are met. Hope Initiative may solicit further volunteer labor and contractor bids as interior work proceeds.

Ending

The board completed routine departmental reports and public-service announcements before adjourning. Additional informational items on the agenda included IDEM air-permit notices for local facilities and a request from the Town of Knightstown about an abandoned property; the county advised the town on tax-sale and title options.