Vigo County moves to use juvenile nonreverting funds to reopen group homes, approves two ordinances

VIGO COUNTY, Ind. — The Vigo County Board of Commissioners voted to approve two ordinances that let the county direct some juvenile-justice nonreverting revenue to repairs, supplies and training at the county’s group homes for children.

Norman Lotembroke, director of the Vigo County Group Homes, told the commissioners the homes have obtained state licensing and have been inspected by the Indiana Department of Child Services but need capital repairs and supplies before children can be placed. “There’s just no capital to spend at the group homes,” Lotembroke said, listing broken bunk beds, a leaking furnace and a lack of kitchen appliances and furniture. “My target open date is Valentine’s Day.”

The actions matter because county officials say the program can leverage daily placement fees paid by the state to cover most operating costs and fund repairs, reducing pressure on the county general fund. Lotembroke and commissioners described a plan to use a portion of revenue captured in a nonreverting…