Commissioners approve small appropriations and grant application: $30,000 TIF right-of-way, $5,712 Love's admin fees, $5,000 drug-free grant application

The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners approved several funding and grant items during the Sept. 15 meeting, including a $30,000 additional appropriation for right-of-way acquisition, a $5,712 appropriation for administrative fees from a Love's allocation fund, and authorization for Elkhart County Community Corrections to apply for a $5,000 grant.

Natasha Weisbeck, the county's redevelopment coordinator, explained a $30,000 request from the County Road 6 and County Road 17 improvement TIF fund to secure right-of-way for an access road off County Road 20 near County Road 17. She said the highway department expects to construct the road next year and will seek construction appropriations in January; this $30,000 would secure the land acquisition costs presently.

County staff also requested an additional appropriation of $5,712 for administrative fees from the Love's allocation fund. Staff said this reimbursement process depends on annual TIF increment flows and that the county's estimate of increment was slightly off this year, prompting the supplemental appropriation to make the full repayment.

Helen Calvin of Elkhart County Community Corrections requested approval to apply for a $5,000 grant from the Elkhart County Drug Free Partnership. Calvin said the funds would support evidence-based programming for participants in the county's work-release facility and those on electronic monitoring, covering items such as workbooks, coins and trolley passes to help participants reach programming and treatment in Elkhart, Goshen and surrounding areas. Calvin said the grant does not require a local match and the hope is that the funds would offset the general fund costs.

Motions to approve each appropriation and the grant application request were made and passed by voice vote.