Commissioners approve multiple continuation and disaster‑recovery grant applications

Kendall County Commissioners on Jan. 27 approved a series of grant applications and acceptances aimed at sustaining victim services, forensic testing, law‑enforcement mental‑health support and disaster recovery.

County staff presented continuation applications for the Violence Against Women Act funding (the resolution capped the request at $125,000 with a ~30% match), Victims of Crime Act funding (the office’s request was described at about $132,925 with a 20% match), and the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) continuation (noted as a roughly $85,000 application). Staff said these are continuation programs that subsidize a special prosecutor position, victim services and court accompaniment, and forensic testing contracts with services partners.

Separately, the court approved an application for a peace‑officer mental health program through the governor’s office (authorizing the sheriff to execute documents for up to $100,000 with no county match), and an Edward Byrne Memorial JAG mobile radio replacement request for $85,000. The court also accepted two TDEM awards for repairs to High Street and Riverbend Road — FEMA covering 75% of established costs, with award amounts of $5,054.74 and $5,271.42 respectively — and approved a forensic evidence testing grant request.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the listed resolutions and to authorize county officials to execute application and acceptance documents where required. Staff noted that matching funds, project timelines and procurement steps will be included with each accepted award and brought back to the court for signature and oversight as needed.

The list of grants approved at the meeting will be routed through signatures and the county’s procurement processes; staff said awarded projects will be coordinated with departments including law enforcement, the district attorney’s office and public works.