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Commissioners approve part-time criminal justice grant coordinator paid with SB 22 funds
Summary
The court voted unanimously to create a part-time criminal justice grant coordinator in the Criminal District Attorney's office funded by SB 22 (rural prosecutor salary assistance), to be paid from grant funds through the fiscal year end. The position will be part-time, contracted at $75 per hour and aimed at stabilizing existing criminal justice
Kendall County Commissioners Court on Tuesday unanimously approved creation of a part-time criminal justice grant coordinator in the Criminal District Attorney's office, to be fully funded with SB 22 rural prosecutor salary assistance funds.
"This is separate and apart from the other grant coordinator on the agenda," Criminal District Attorney Nicole S. Bishop told the court, explaining the position will focus solely on criminal justice grants and will be funded only through existing grant dollars. Bishop said the role is intended to shore up three grants currently held in her office and the sheriff's office, free her victim advocate to do statutorily required advocacy work, and prepare grant files to transfer later to the countywide grant coordinator.
Bishop named Jennifer Forbes, a part-time contractor who formerly worked with the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG), as the candidate she sought to hire and said the contract rate is $75 per hour. "This is not county funded with county funds," Bishop said. "If I don't use these grant funds, I have to give them back to the state." Commissioners heard that the position would be funded through the end of the fiscal year (September 30) and that, as a part-time exempt position, it carries no county-paid benefits beyond required payroll taxes.
Commissioners asked whether SB 22 funds could be used to extend the hire beyond September 30; Bishop said she would reassess and look for other grant funding before requesting general fund support. Commissioner discussion covered routine budget and compensation committee procedures; county staff confirmed the money is budgeted in the DA's SB 22 line and that a budget adjustment would be needed to reassign specific line-items if approved.
Commissioner Andrew Wiesen made the motion to create the position; Commissioner Chapman seconded. The court voted 5-0 to approve the position. "Motion carries 5 to 0," the court recorded.
The court also discussed how the position would coordinate with the future countywide grant coordinator and how the DA's office will transfer current grant responsibilities once the county hires its permanent grant coordinator.
