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DWI court seeks city funding for vehicle operations, requests $3,000 startup and $500 monthly
Summary
Deputy Bruce Winston asked the Batesville City Council for a $3,000 initial deposit and $500 per month (about $6,000 annually) to support fuel, maintenance and future replacement of a county-donated vehicle used for DWI/sobriety court home visits and transports; he said the program currently serves 14 participants and relies primarily on state grants for staffing.
Deputy Bruce Winston asked the council to provide initial and ongoing operating funds to support a vehicle the county provided to the DWI (sobriety) court. Winston said the county has provided a fully outfitted vehicle for transports and home visits, and requested an initial $3,000 deposit to start a maintenance/fuel account plus $500 per month thereafter (about $6,000 annually) to sustain operations and build a replacement fund for future vehicles.
Winston said the sobriety court is designed to help people involved in DUI/DWI matters to rehabilitate rather than default to incarceration; he said the court has operated in the state since 2009 and that the local program currently has 14 participants, with two scheduled to graduate Oct. 10. He told council the driver/staff position is covered by county/state grant match and that the requested funds would cover fuel and maintenance only.
Council members asked for estimates of mileage and operating costs; Winston said monthly mileage could be "5 to 600 miles a month" depending on home visits to participants in neighboring counties and that routine monthly fuel and oil costs would likely be $200'00 to $250. He said a future goal is local funding for the entire program so it does not rely solely on state grants.
Council did not take an immediate vote on the request during the transcripted minutes; the mayor said the budget process was beginning and that the council would give the request "a good look." The DWI court representative provided contact information at the district courthouse for follow-up questions.
