Commissioners approve sheriff travel for CALEA conference and extend Purdue Extension agreement

The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 10 approved two routine administrative items: out-of-state travel for sheriff’s office accreditation staff and the annual extension-services contract with Purdue University.

Brian Holloman of the sheriff’s office said the request was for travel to the CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies) accreditation conference in Jacksonville, Florida for the sheriff, chief deputy and CALEA accreditation manager Joseph Pinch; county policy requires board approval for travel outside the contiguous states. The board approved the travel unanimously.

Robbie Kelly, County Extension Director, presented the annual contractual extension with Purdue University that funds six extension educators who provide 4‑H, health and human sciences, and agriculture and natural-resources programming. Kelly highlighted program statistics for the last year: 3,058 4‑H participants, about 600 youth in shooting-sports programming (described as the largest in the state), roughly 450 educational programs and an outreach reach of more than 22,500 people. Kelly said funding for the next year has already been allocated in the county budget. The board approved the contract extension unanimously; the motion was recorded as moved by 'Sydney' and seconded by 'Bob'.