Elkhart County commissioners approve multiple appropriations, allocate $500,000 in opioid funds to Oak Lawn intake center

Elkhart County Commissioners approved a series of appropriations and funding adjustments during their Jan. 13, 2025 meeting, including $500,000 from opioid-restricted funds to support Oak Lawn Psychiatric Center’s new intake center and contracts to produce preliminary engineering designs for three county bridges.

The board voted unanimously to approve $150,000 from county bridge funds for preliminary engineering on Bridge 193 (design by SJCA), $150,000 for engineering services on Bridge 253 (USI Consultants), and $100,000 for supplemental engineering and archaeological services tied to the replacement of Bridge 385 on County Road 18 (Highland Avenue) over Yellow Creek (GAI Consultants). County Highway Department staff said deteriorated concrete box beams identified in a countywide bridge inspection prompted the requests and that additional geotechnical concerns required the supplemental work.

Commissioners also approved a $500,000 appropriation from opioid-restricted funds to fulfill a previously agreed two-payment arrangement with Oak Lawn Psychiatric Center, described in the meeting as two payments of $250,000 each to support the facility’s intake center. The board approved an $80,000 district appropriation to replace two boilers and four…