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Kosciusko County tables $110,000 FreedomFest funding request, schedules special April meeting
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Summary
County commissioners tabled a $110,000 funding request for FreedomFest after asking for more details and a plan to move from reimbursement-only grants to advance funding for artist contracts; a special meeting was set for April 22 to decide next steps.
Kosciusko County commissioners on Wednesday declined to approve a $110,000 grant request for FreedomFest and instead scheduled a special meeting to review details and potential changes to the county's reimbursement policy.
Sandy Hatcher, who identified herself as working with FreedomFest and World Compassion Network, asked the commission for $110,000 to underwrite entertainment and infrastructure for a July weekend she said would draw large out-of-county crowds. "The $85,000 of that is for the entertainment and attractions, and that's what we hope to bring in at least 10,000 people from out of town," Hatcher said, describing plans for a parade, car show, headline artist and fireworks.
Commissioners praised the ambition but said current county procedures require grants to be reimbursed after invoiced expenses, and they do not yet have internal policies or contract pathways to advance funds to an event organizer. "As of today, it's a reimbursement grant. We can't modify that," the chair said, adding the county had received guidance from the State Board of Accounts but still needs formal procedural changes and approval from the county commissioners and council.
Staff offered a compromise: approve a reimbursable grant or approve funding with clear caveats and documentation now, then convert to an advanced-payment method if the commission and county procedures are updated in time. Commissioners pressed for more specifics about artist contracts and line-item budgets; one member called the $85,000 entertainment figure "a lot of money" without itemized bids.
Because the FreedomFest timeline requires contracted artists before the commission's next regular meeting, the board voted to hold a special meeting on April 22 to consider the festival funding and any temporary or procedural exceptions. The motion to schedule the special meeting carried on roll call.
Next steps: organizers were asked to provide itemized quotes, proposed contract language and a budget that separates entertainment from infrastructure and fairground improvements ahead of the April meeting. The commission did not approve any portion of the $110,000 at Wednesday's session.
