County panel approves $115,000 from opioid funds to finish jail body scanner payment

A Kosciusko County opioid fund panel voted to pay the remaining $115,000 balance on a jail body scanner using unrestricted opioid settlement funds, members said at a meeting where they also approved posting a public grant application and setting quarterly review dates.

The chair opened the meeting by reviewing fund balances, saying the restricted opioid fund had $374,571.94 in December with $95,000 already appropriated — leaving $249,571.94 available — and that the unrestricted fund stood at $142,001.35 after prior appropriations. The chair said the panel met to consider requests for those funds and to ensure awards fit the parameters in a February 2025 resolution that defines the program’s guidelines.

A presenter who identified himself as Jim described the county’s decision to replace a 2018 body scanner with a newer model that incorporates artificial intelligence to flag anatomical anomalies and assist less-experienced jail staff. “The one that we decided to go with, it has AI incorporated into it,” Jim said, adding that the system can compare a new scan to a previously stored scan for repeat entrants and that vendor personnel can update and remotely service the unit.

During questions, a panel member asked whether vendor updates would temporarily take the scanner offline. A questioner said remote updates can shut the unit down briefly; the presenter said the system can fully power down if unused for seven days and noted prior annual service fees were about $12,500. The presenter also said the county already paid one-third of the machine from commissary funds and that the remaining balance is $115,000.

After discussion about liability and the intended purpose of the opioid funds, a committee member moved to approve $115,000 from the unrestricted opioid funds to pay the scanner balance. The chair called for hands; members voiced assent and the meeting proceeded, with no numerical vote tally recorded in the transcript. The committee then approved posting a grant application on the county website, directed that public notice be issued, and set a May meeting (applications proposed due May 14) as part of a plan to hold quarterly funding-review meetings.

The panel discussed logistics for posting the application as a printable PDF, notifying prior applicants and interested groups by email and newspaper notice, and assigning staff to coordinate advertisements. The meeting concluded with members prioritizing prompt public notice so applicants have time to prepare before the May deadline.

Next steps: the panel will post the grant application and consider applications at the scheduled quarterly meeting; meeting materials and a public notice are to be published on the county website.