County seeks $100,000 to refurbish group homes and proposes staff reorganization to reopen beds

Commissioner Mike Morris and Norm Lottermoke, director of Vigo County Group Homes, asked the council to appropriate $100,000 from the juvenile center nonreverting fund to repair and refurbish two county group homes so they can accept children.

Lottermoke said deferred maintenance—examples included an infestation at one house that required multiple treatments and other needed repairs—prevented the homes from being used. He said the county had already certified two homes and had three children placed the week the homes reopened; he is licensed for eight beds at each house and said reopening both homes would allow the county to house more children locally and reduce placements out of county.

The requested $100,000 would fund major repairs at two large homes; Lottermoke said the fund targeted comes from revenues paid by other counties when Vigo holds out-of-county detainees and is not general-tax revenue. He said the county expects DCS reimbursement for placements (DCS pays a per-child daily rate) and projected the homes could repay the county—9s investment through placement reimbursements by the end of the year, though that depends on occupancy.

Lottermoke also presented an amended salary ordinance to restructure administrative positions: he proposed eliminating an office manager and a maintenance supervisor position (moving the maintenance role under the commissioners' maintenance department), converting certain titles into a compliance/finance manager and treatment/licensing director, and reclassifying some roles to reflect additional responsibilities. He said these changes were intended to improve operations and would save approximately $43,000 annually, according to payroll estimates prepared with the auditor—9s office.

Council members asked for Human Resources review of the proposed grade changes before final action. Several council members expressed support for reopening local beds but said they wanted HR to verify regrading and long-term staffing needs before approving salary ordinance changes or new appropriations. DCS consultant Hailey Cauthen told the council the state had a large population of children in residential settings and that local placement options are in demand for reunification and step-down services.

No final appropriation or ordinance vote was recorded at the meeting; commissioners and the juvenile director said they would provide additional information and work with HR and the auditor—9s office.