County’s opioid money funds 4 proposals

Wayne County will distribute more than $230,000 in opioid settlement money to four local organizations.

The county’s commissioners approved the funding proposal Commissioner Aaron Roberts presented during their Oct. 22 meeting. Roberts worked with a five-person committee to score the seven applications received during September for the third round of funding groups that address opioid-related needs since settlement payments began in 2022.

“I really appreciate the stance we’ve taken with the county, that we find the right places and the right reasons to spend that money and spend it on what it’s intended,” he said.

The county had $287,163.17 between restricted and unrestricted funds received from Indiana’s settlements with opioid manufacturers, distributors and retailers because of their contributions to ongoing opioid addiction problems. The county will annually receive a share of the money through 2038, with the total estimated at $3,748,189.86. The seven applicants for this year’s funds requested $862,907.98.

The committee, formed in conjunction with the Wayne County Health Department and its Health First Indiana committee, selected to fund proposals from Reid Health, Birth to Five, Bridges for Life and Milton Police Department.

Reid will receive $83,149.66 of its requested $172,963.98. The committee reduced the funding from two years to one year. The money will cover the wages, benefits, training, equipment and supplies for a community health worker working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County.

Birth to Five will receive $65,000 of its $71,000 request. The money provides administrative and operational expenses, plus supplies and materials. The committee chose not to fund naloxone kits and first aid or CPR training, because those can be obtained elsewhere in the community at no cost.

Bridges for Life will receive the full $75,000 it requested for its Recover Together program.

Milton Police Department will receive its requested $9,239 for body cameras and handguns.

The funding decisions leave the county with $54,774.51 in its opioid settlement accounts. According to the Indiana Attorney General Office, the county is expected to receive an additional $237,670.49 in 2026.

EDC updates

Valerie Shaffer, president of the Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County, provided commissioners updates on several issues.

Commissioners approved 3-0 a $26,000 economic development income tax grant for Milestone Properties LLC that plans to build a trailer wash facility in the Midwest Industrial Park. Shaffer said the business, which will invest $2.3 million and create six jobs, is not eligible for tax abatements from Richmond.

The EDC-managed, countywide blight elimination project through the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program has completed eight demolitions, with nine in the demolition pipeline and 23 other properties submitted for the program. Shaffer requested the program’s end date be extended and that, because the program is progressing under budget, more properties be permitted beyond the initially estimated 44.

The program was pledged $390,000 from the consolidated EDIT fund and $390,000 from the county EDIT fund. The program is open to communities participating in either HELP or consolidated EDIT.

Commissioners unanimously voted to extend the program deadline until Dec. 31, 2026, and to permit submission of additional properties.

Shaffer also revised a previous request that the county contribute $80,000 annually to a land bank project and permit the land bank’s employee to receive county benefits. She requested $60,000 annually and said the land bank would be a standalone entity for its employee.

Shaffer said the Richmond Redevelopment Commission approved providing $60,000 this year, with the city planning to budget $60,000 contributions in 2027 and 2028. She said Cambridge City is considering the $5,000 annual contribution requested from the county’s towns, but Centerville and Hagerstown could not find money to contribute.

Commissioners discussed covering the towns’ contributions for three years, providing the land bank time to prove its effectiveness. They also discussed scaling towns’ contributions to their populations by implementing a per-person cost.

Commissioners requested that all towns be eligible for the program’s initial three years through the county’s $60,000 contributions. That would give the land bank the $100,000 seed money it would receive from consolidated EDIT, plus the city and county contributions. They planned to discuss the concept with Wayne County Council members, who also heard Shaffer’s original land bank proposal Sept. 17.

Land auction

Vacant land along East Main Street was sold during a brief, two-bidder auction.

Eric Dimick Eastman bid $25,000 for 916-918 E. Main St. During 2021, the city of Richmond issued an emergency demolition for the three-story building at that site, and it was razed, leaving green space.

Dimick Eastman owns the former BSN location that stretches immediately east of the lot to 10th Street. As part of the Revitalize Richmond project, Dimick Eastman is starting a maker space in the former BSN.

Bidding began at $10,000, with Dimick Eastman and Kyle Tom increasing the bid $2,500 at a time until Tom bowed out of the bidding.

Commissioners voted 3-0 to accept the $25,000 bid. Closing is expected to occur within three weeks. 

Other issues

• Michele Padgette, the county’s veterans service officer, announced that Quanex had donated $5,000 to the veterans emergency fund. Padgette said the donation comes at a great time with winter approaching and provides the office additional opportunities to assist veterans.
• Kim Clauser, the county’s human resources director, received commissioner permission to further explore establishing a relationship with OnVine Media for tools that would help recruit county employees.
• Steve Higinbotham, the county administrator, informed commissioners that three former sheriff’s department vehicles brought $12,300 when sold through online auctions. A 2019 Dodge Charger with an engine knock sold for $3,450, a 2016 Charger with 113,000 miles sold for $4,700, and a 2018 Charger with 110,000 miles sold for $4,150.
• Mike Sharp, the county highway supervisor, received permission to receive bids on a chipper box for use in chip-and-seal projects and to purchase a 2017 Freightliner dump truck for $75,073.50.
• Commissioners canceled their Oct. 29 meeting.