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Council OKs $12,000 feasibility study for coroner facility using GEO bond interest
Summary
Warrick County council approved an amendment to the 2023 general obligation bond to pay up to $12,000 from earned interest for a feasibility study into a new coroner facility after the coroner told council changes at a regional morgue have returned certain needs to the county.
Warrick County Council approved an amendment to the county's 2023 general obligation (G.O.) bond to fund a feasibility study for a proposed coroner facility.
County administrator Debbie Bennett Steersman said commissioners had earlier approved design work for animal control and that the bond has earned about $160,000 in interest. She asked council to approve using interest from the bond to pay a feasibility study vendor up to $12,000 to evaluate a coroner facility site and program needs.
Coroner Alyssa told the council administrative changes at the regional morgue in Vanderburgh County had reduced the services the county previously relied on (storage, specimen handling, some autopsy support), returning needs to the county. "We aren't able to use their facility as a storage unit anymore," she said, and listed needs including morgue cooler space, specimen handling and secure storage of decedents' belongings.
Councilor Pat Brooks moved to approve the $12,000 amendment to the G.O. bond ordinance to pay for the feasibility study; Chris Wetstein seconded. The motion passed and staff said the consultant would aim to produce a study within about three months.
If the study recommends construction, the commissioners would need to amend the bond ordinance again to allocate construction funds from the bond principal or interest as appropriate; the council was approving only the feasibility study at this meeting.
