$35K distributed to reduce drug use, addiction

Tim Pierson, the Drug Free Wayne County Partnership director, presented Wayne County’s commissioners with the group’s list of grant recipients during the Aug. 7 afternoon meeting.

DFWCP had $35,349 to award equally in three categories.

Law enforcement and justice awards are $4,130 to Richmond Police Department, $3,000 to Wayne County Community Corrections, $2,613 to Cambridge City Police Department and $2,040 to Fountain City Police Department.

Prevention and education awards are $5,333 to Birth-to-Five, $3,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wayne County, $1,850 to Townsend Community Center, and $1,600 to Richmond Parks and Recreation Department.

Recovery and treatment awards are $2,730 to Ivy Tech Community College Richmond, $2,389 to Bridges for Life, $2,000 for 228 Club, $1,680 for Better Life-Brianna’s Hope, $1,534 for Cross Road-Shepherds Way and $1,450 for Recovery Rocks.

Commissioners unanimously approved the grant awards.

Car-seat safety

Dan Burk, environmental specialist for the Wayne County Health Department, presented commissioners a memorandum of understanding with Richmond Police Department for a fall car-seat safety event. 

The health department will contribute $3,000 for purchase of car seats. Families from throughout Wayne County will be asked to register prior to the event to receive car seats.

RPD Det. Julia Ridgway told commissioners that she is the county’s first law enforcement officer to become a certified child restraint technician. Cambridge City Police Department and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office might soon have officers undergo the training.

Commissioners approved the health department’s sponsorship and also approved $6,400 sponsorship for a variety of Meridian events.

Other business

• Commissioners approved spending $132,607.69 from American Rescue Plan Act dollars to cover casualty and worker’s compensation insurance premiums for the remainder of 2024. The county’s insurance renews July 1, and a premium increase exceeds the remaining budgeted dollars. Council during its morning meeting recommended the money come from ARPA rather than council’s contingency fund. Commissioner Mary Anne Butters voted against spending ARPA money, saying the ARPA funds were withering away and worrying nothing would be left to spend on animal well-being.
• The county will spend $6,500 for a feasibility study about the courthouse elevator that recently was out of service for two days, causing delay for a trial. Replacement parts are difficult to acquire because of the elevator’s age. The study will take into account options such as replacement of the elevator, adding a second elevator or installing a chair lift in case the elevator is out of service.
• After a county worker was struck by a car crossing South Fifth Street from a parking lot to the Wayne County Administration Building, commissioners authorized spending $5,000 to upgrade the crosswalk and its signage. The money will come from $100,000 of ARPA money slated for several signage projects.
• Commissioners appointed Patricia Finley to the Dublin Public Library’s board.
• Steve Higinbotham, the director of facilities and development, reported that the county raised $1200 for the United Way during a hot dog lunch Aug. 2. Sales of lunches accounted for $700, and Bader Mechanical donated another $500.