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Commission approves $98,160 grant to Riley County to fund jail integration coordinator
Summary
Commissioners approved a $98,160 special alcohol fund grant to Riley County for 2027 to continue funding an integration/reintegration coordinator stationed in the Riley County jail; county staff said the role supports recidivism reduction and community referrals.
The commission approved a 2027 grant agreement of $98,160 to support an integration coordinator position administered through the Riley County Law Board and associated agencies.
Kristen King, assistant to the city manager, explained that the city's special alcohol fund (state liquor tax receipts) can be used for prevention, education, treatment and mitigation of substance use disorders and that the law board recommended forwarding the grant request. She noted previous grant amounts of $88,000 for 2025 and 2026 and said the proposed increase covers salary and benefits adjustments.
Deputy Director Erin Friedline (Riley County Police Department) described how the coordinator — hired in 2025 — works inside the jail with inmates, links residents to sober‑living, education and job training partners, and supports reentry planning. Friedline said the Riley County jail averages "over a 120 inmates" and that "about 80 percent of our inmates are pretrial status," adding that early program tracking showed seven participants in the first quarter of 2026. "We are averaging over a 120 inmates in our jail right now," Friedline said, and argued that the coordinator role helps reduce recidivism by connecting people with treatment and employment resources.
Commissioners discussed program outcomes, partnerships with community providers and the law board's endorsement. The commission voted unanimously to approve the grant authorization.
