Elkhart County Council approves multiple appropriations, interlocal agreements and a new grant fund

The Elkhart County Council on April 17 approved a series of additional appropriations, transfers and interlocal agreements, and established a new grant fund for Sheriffs Office programs. All roll-call votes recorded in the meeting were unanimous, 7-0.

Council members voted to approve a $50,000 additional appropriation from the Cumulative Drainage Fund for the county surveyor’s office to fund obstruction removal in regulated drains. County Surveyor Philip Barker told the council the request is to close out an old project and replenish the fund; he said "we have $16,000 roughly left in it, which will be returned if we get this appropriation." The council recorded the motion and approved the appropriation 7-0.

The council approved a $120,000 nonreverting appropriation from Park and Recreation capital funds for park maintenance, to be used for shelter repairs, concrete leveling, playground wood chips and similar capital maintenance. Rhonda Deacare of Elkhart County Parks described current projects, saying the department is "finishing up the DeFries house" and is installing a hexagon-shaped shelter at Corson…