Wayne County plans to spend nearly $300,000 to improve safety and security for sheriff’s officers and jail inmates.
The sheriff’s officers transport inmates to the courthouse’s west entrance for court appearances. The entrance is next to the building’s cooling tower inside an alcove accessed on a narrow, crumbling concrete driveway.
Council member Jeff Cappa, a former county sheriff, said during the combined Wayne County Council and commissioners workshop June 17 that the entrance has provided a safety issue for 20 years. Not only does the cooling tower provide a hiding spot for people, but sheriff’s vans must back onto South Third Street when returning to the jail.
Steve Higinbotham, the county administrator, said the project will improve safety for the vans and provide security for sheriff’s officers and inmates entering and leaving the west door. The project will repair the existing concrete driveway and extend it into a circle drive that connects with the access drive for the coroner’s office. It will also fence in the courthouse’s alcove, putting the cooling tower and courthouse entrance behind locked gates.
During their meeting earlier June 17, commissioners approved a project budget based on a bid by Smarrelli General Contractor of Richmond. Smarrelli bid $120,674 to repair the existing concrete and install the fencing and gates, plus $114,284 to create the circle drive and a necessary retaining wall.
With Smarrelli’s bids, LWC Inc.’s project preparation and oversight and a 10% contingency, Higinbotham presented a $291,718 budget request to council.
Council member Barry Ritter, who said he respects the need for officer safety, questioned whether the county should spend nearly $300,000 on the project when planning to install a new courthouse elevator that could exceed $1 million.
“How much are you willing to pay for officers’ safety and inmates’ safety?” Cappa said. “We have an opportunity to fix this.”
Commissioner Jeff Plasterer said commissioners are waiting for an advantageous time to put the elevator project to bid when contractors might not be as busy. Last year, no contractors bid to install the new elevator.
Plasterer also said there’s about $1.8 million in the cumulative capital fund for the courthouse, and that money could be used for the elevator project. Therefore, adequate funding is available for both projects.
Council member Beth Leisure advocated spending the money now on the west side, because the elevator expense will likely extend into 2027’s budget.
Council approved 6-0 the project budget, allocating the funds from a project line item created when American Rescue Act money was spent on normal general fund expenses because of the ARPA money’s spending deadline.
Health department transfers
Council approved three transfers because the health department received less grant money for fetal and infant mortality review. The grant funding will not support the community coordinator position through June 2027.
The transfers included $1,930 for salary, $200 for retirement contributions and $11,500 for health insurance contributions.
Council also approved the department applying for an emergency preparedness grant that will provide $25,000 beginning July 1. The grant money will be used for training, public education and supplies.
Financial advisor
Council plans to hire financial help as the county plans for and adjusts to Indiana’s changing financial landscape.
They heard presentations during the workshop from Jeff Peters of Peters Franklin and Tyler Lewis of Reedy Financial Group. Council plans to hear two more presentations during its July 1 meeting.
Flood plain administrator
During workshop, commissioners approved an interlocal agreement with Richmond to provide flood plain administration services for the Whitewater Gorge Park Activation project.
There will be no cost for the services required because the park improvements are in a flood plain.
A version of this article appeared in the June 24 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
