Commissioners adopt ordinance to receive $5,000 mental-health court planning grant; approve consulting contract, resolution assigning department liaisons and a包

Delaware County commissioners on Tuesday approved several administrative matters and contracts during their Jan. 21 meeting. Key formal actions included adopting an ordinance to accept a $5,000 planning grant for a new mental-health problem-solving court, approving a consulting contract for a retired planning commission employee, adopting a resolution that defines commissioner liaison responsibilities, and appointing a member to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).

Mental-health problem-solving court fund (Ordinance 2025-1): Jane Miranda told commissioners the county had been awarded a $5,000 planning grant from the Indiana Office of Court Services to assemble a team and plan a new county mental-health problem-solving court. Commissioners voted to introduce the ordinance, then moved to suspend the rules so the fund could be created and the grant deposited immediately. A roll-call vote to adopt the ordinance passed.

Consulting contract (planning commission): Kylene Swackhammer explained the contract is to allow the county to call on retired Planning Commission employee Cheryl McGarrick on an as-needed basis; the hourly rate was stated as $30 per hour and the contract is paid from the planning office—s comp fund rather than the county general fund. Commissioners approved the contract with a correction to a date on the draft and a discussion about timesheet submission frequency (staff indicated weekly submission was acceptable).

Resolution assigning departmental responsibilities (Resolution 2025-1): Commissioners adopted Resolution 2025-1, which assigns departmental oversight among the three commissioners. The resolution lists specific departments and offices that each commissioner will oversee for liaison and performance-review purposes.

Board appointments and other motions: Commissioners nominated and appointed Audie Barber to a county board (BZA) after a candidate statement and a roll-call vote recorded support. They also tabled several other board appointments and an audio-system quote for later consideration. The board approved claims and payroll payments as listed on the meeting agenda.

Votes at a glance (selected approvals recorded in the meeting): - Ordinance 2025-1 (create fund for $5,000 Mental Health Court planning grant): motion to suspend rules — approved (roll call); motion to adopt — approved (roll call). - Resolution 2025-1 (departmental assignments): adopted (roll call). - Consulting contract with Cheryl McGarrick ($30/hour, as needed): approved (roll call). - Payment to East Central Indiana (ECI) dues: $33,570.90 — approved (roll call) (separate item covered in meeting). - Appointment: Audie Barber — appointed to a county board (roll-call support recorded). - Quotes for audio equipment: tabled for later meeting. - Claims and payroll: payment of claims $3,562,606.12 and payroll runs approved by roll-call votes.

Ending: The minutes and roll-call votes show unanimous or majority support where recorded; commissioners directed staff to process paperwork and provide corrected contract language where needed.