Madison County board delays Step Up program decision, asks for full operational plan

Discussing unfinished business at the Aug. 18 meeting, County Board member Michael Holliday asked for a status update on the Step Up program. Chairman Pro Tem Michael Walters said the committee was continuing to work with department heads, but that further detail was needed before the board could act.

Mick Madison told colleagues the county has not received a complete plan and urged staff to produce a full system design describing how an arrested person would move through arrest, court, release, treatment and supervision. "A system, in my opinion, needs to be put in place by the people that know how our system works from arrest, to court," Madison said, adding that the county needs cost estimates and clear decision points before a board vote.

Madison summarized the elements he wants included: the decision-making process for diversion or treatment placement, timetables for those determinations, and estimated costs. Heather Mueller-Jones encouraged Madison to attend Judiciary Committee meetings where the program is being discussed.

Why it matters: The Step Up program would alter the interface between criminal justice processing and mental-health interventions; board members emphasized the need for a complete operational plan and cost estimate before allocating funds or approving program implementation.

Board action: No formal vote was taken; members asked for further committee work and a completed proposal to return to committee and the board for consideration.