Kosciusko County commissioners approve contracts, grant applications and road bid schedule

The Kosciusko County Commissioners on an agenda meeting approved a series of contracts and grant applications covering jail medical care, peer recovery services, road paving bid advertisements and juvenile and technology grants, and heard an update on Justice Building renovations.

The actions included formal approval to sign an addendum to the existing contract for medical services at the county detention facility; authorization to enter a one‑year agreement with Fellowship Mission for peer recovery coaches at $45,000 paid from opioid-settlement funds; permission to apply for a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) lakes grant that would support services for Syracuse, Wawasee and Tippecanoe lakes; and authorization to advertise contracts tied to a Community Crossings matching grant for paving work on Packard Road, Armstrong, C Nineteen and 700 South.

Why it matters: the approvals continue ongoing county services for jail medical care and opioid recovery efforts, start procurement for several local paving projects supported by state matching funds, and preserve the county's eligibility for lake‑management DNR funding.

Most important actions

- Jail medical services: Commissioners approved an addendum to the county's contract with the jail medical provider (QCC addendum). The addendum increases services under the existing agreement; the board authorized signing the addendum and moved it forward as a consent item.

- Peer recovery coaches: The board approved entering and signing a one‑year agreement with Fellowship Mission to provide peer recovery coaches 40 hours per week at a total of $45,000. Commissioners noted the contract mirrors a December contract with the Bowen Center and that payment will come from opioid‑related funds.

- DNR lakes grant: Staff sought and received permission to apply for a Department of Natural Resources grant to support services on Syracuse, Wawasee and Tippecanoe lakes. Commissioners treated the application authorization as a formality and said the county would return with further information if awarded.

- Road paving procurement: County Highway requested permission to advertise bids for projects funded by the Community Crossings matching grant (2024‑2). The advertised projects include Packard Road, Armstrong, C Nineteen and 700 South; bids were scheduled to be advertised and open in February and awarded later in the month.

- Juvenile Detention Alternatives (JDA) grant: The board approved applying for a Fiscal Year 2026 JDA grant of $60,000, an advanced grant with $15,000 earmarked for implementation and $45,000 for juvenile programming. Judge McGrath had presented the request to the council on Jan. 9 and commissioners authorized the application.

Other approvals and updates

- Information technology: The board approved a three‑year renewal for WatchGuard OffPoint multifactor authentication for county computer logins.

- Legal services: Commissioners approved agreements with the law firm Turner & Valentine for BZA legal services and for legal services to the redevelopment commission and the auditor's office. The redevelopment commission contract was noted at $220 per hour.

- Personnel and facilities: County Administrator Marsha reported Justice Building renovation progress: phase 7, which included the clerk's office and community corrections, was scheduled to be completed Monday, with phase 8 (probation and the former KEDCO offices) set to begin the following Tuesday. IT staff introduced new employee Garrett Winans.

Votes at a glance

Each item above was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote during the meeting. The transcript records unanimous voice approval on the motions but does not list individual roll‑call votes or member vote tallies.

What the record shows and what it does not

The meeting transcript records motions, seconds and voice votes for the items described above; individual commissioner names for each vote were not recorded in the transcript and no roll call tallies were provided. Where the transcript specified funding sources (for example, the Fellowship Mission contract funded from opioid money), the article notes those sources. The DNR action was recorded as permission to apply for a grant (application authorization), not as an awarded grant.

Next steps and meeting schedule

Staff said they will return with contract documents as needed after signing and with grant award information if the county is selected. The commissioners said the board will reconvene on Jan. 28 for its next regular meeting.