Wayne County’s court system is dealing more frequently with language barriers that require translators.
To make sure there’s enough money, Wayne County Council created a new budget line item in the court services 2025 budget and transferred $10,000 to that line item from the pauper attorney line item.
Adam McQueen, the assistant chief probation officer, requested the moves during council’s March 29 workshop with Wayne County’s commissioners. McQueen said it was a temporary fix that he hopes will last throughout the year. Translators are primarily funded through an Indiana Supreme Court grant that has paid $23,606.40 since Jan. 1, 2024. McQueen said he will continue applying for that grant.
Spanish accounts for 90% of the translation services needed, but McQueen said the county has supplied translators in Czech, French, German, Hindi, American Sign Language and others.
Money was taken from the pauper attorney line item because it’s the largest in the court services budget and appears to have enough for the rest of the year.
Nurse needed
Dan Burk, director of the county’s health department, told council members that his department is struggling to hire a statutorily required public nurse.
The position has been open since November, and Burk said two conditional offers have been made. However, neither of those individuals showed up for background checks.
Burk said the $26.78-per-hour wage is low for nurses. He plans to present council with options to increase the wage or to recruit for the position through its contract with Vergence, which supplies contract employees.
Project updates
Steve Higinbotham, the county administrator, updated council during workshop and commissioners during their earlier meeting about projects.
The new generator for the Wayne County Administration Building was expected to be hooked up March 20. That is a $285,474 project.
Cabling for phones and data has now been installed in the health department, courthouse, administration building and jail. That project cost $178,831.
The $273,120 project to convert county buildings to a proxy card lock system began March 19 with electricians at the health department. After the electricians complete work at the health department, courthouse and administration building, the lock work will begin.
Centerville library
During their meeting, commissioners reappointed Kim Goble and Tiffani Thornburg to the Centerville Public Library board. Both will begin their second terms.
A version of this article appeared in the March 26 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.