Elkhart County Council approves multiple appropriations and grant renewals for health, safety and parks

Elkhart County Council members approved a series of departmental appropriations and grant renewals at their meeting, funding county public safety programs, parks renovations, health services and several state and federal grant programs.

The measures included appropriations from restricted funds and nonreverting endowments and the acceptance and establishment of new grant funds. Most motions were approved unanimously or with a single abstention where presenters had disclosed prior involvement.

The actions will fund: supplemental bridge design work; drug interdiction and treatment programs administered through the county’s drug-coordinating fund; emergency planning and homeland-security-related cybersecurity purchases; a multi-part renovation of the DeFries house and other Park and Recreation projects paid from nonreverting and endowment funds; grant-funded staffing for probation, problem-solving and pretrial courts; a major Community Corrections renewal; and several smaller program-specific appropriations.

Many items were 100% reimbursable grants administered through the county (for example the State Homeland Security Program cybersecurity purchase and LEPC hazardous-materials exercise), while others used funds that accrue from local fees (the drug-coordinating fund) or from private endowments and donations (parks endowment funds).

Votes at a glance - $150,000 from the edit fund — motion moved and seconded; recorded as approved (vote recorded in meeting as passed). - $100,000 from the CUEN Bridge Fund for additional design services under a supplemental agreement with GAI Consultants — moved, seconded and approved (vote recorded as passed 7–0). - Drug partnership appropriation (listed in presentations as $149,913 with breakdowns:…