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Marion County commissioners pull DA mental‑health agreement from agenda, citing contract language concerns
Summary
The Marion County Board of Commissioners removed from the May 6 agenda a proposed interdepartmental agreement with the district attorney’s office to add a 0.5 FTE attorney for mental‑health case management, saying contract language needs revision; the board also approved proclamations for Mental Health Awareness Month, Nurses Week and Corrections Professionals Week.
The Marion County Board of Commissioners removed a proposed interdepartmental agreement with the Marion County District Attorney’s Office from its May 6 agenda after Commissioner Danielle Bethell said the contract’s language needed modification.
Commissioner Danielle Bethell moved to remove item #8 — described on the agenda as Amendment #1 to the Interdepartmental Agreement with the Marion County District Attorney’s Office to add $115,000 for a new agreement total of $219,594 and extend the term to June 30, 2027, to fund one 0.5 full‑time equivalent attorney to manage mental‑health cases, including aid‑and‑assist jail diversion cases. Commissioner Colm Willis seconded the motion; both voted aye and Commissioner Kevin Cameron was absent. Bethell stated for the record that some language in the contract must be modified before the county proceeds.
The board also approved three proclamations during the session. Health and Human Services staff Laura Sprouse, Kelly Martin and Valerie Geer presented a proclamation designating May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month; Commissioner Bethell moved to approve and Commissioner Willis seconded. County and partner staff presented a proclamation designating the week of May 6–12, 2026, as Nurses Week, and Sheriff Nick Hunter, Commander Jacob Ramsey and Deputy Chris Symington presented a proclamation designating May 3–9, 2026, as National Corrections Professionals Week. Each proclamation was approved by the two commissioners in attendance; Commissioner Cameron was recorded absent for the votes.
No formal action on the district attorney agreement was taken at the meeting; the item was removed from the agenda for further contract revision. The board adjourned at 10:10 a.m.
