Sheriff Randy Retter hopes Wayne County opioid settlement money will help him institute a new jail program to assist inmates during and after their incarceration.
Retter explained to Wayne County’s commissioners Feb. 14 that he’d like to employ a “navigator” to help connect inmates with resources that help them fight addiction and improve their lives. The sheriff said the navigator’s efforts would complement services outside agencies already provide.
“My hope is to make things more effective and more efficient by having this navigator,” Retter said.
The county has not received its 2023 distribution from the state’s share of national settlements with opioid manufacturers, distributors, marketers and pharmacies for their contributions to the opioid addiction crisis. The Indiana Attorney General’s Office estimates the county’s 2023 share will be $441,778.27, and the estimate for the county’s 2024 share is $186,806.48. The county distributed about $411,000 it received in 2022. Settlement distributions will continue through 2038.
Retter said he hoped that once established the navigator would become part of the state’s Integrated Reentry and Correctional Support funding program. Commissioner Jeff Plasterer suggested that increased health funding for Health First Indiana could possibly provide a stable funding stream for the navigator, who would also be helping combat and treat hepatitis C and HIV.
Commissioners expressed support for the navigator concept and encouraged Retter to prepare a proposal, but they are waiting to receive the money before deciding how they’ll request funding applications.
Commissioner Mary Anne Butters said the jail program is exactly what the settlement money is expected to do. Commissioner Brad Dwenger said he fully supports the navigator program, adding that it’s necessary and would benefit the county and the inmates.
ARPA money
Retter also presented commissioners with an updated $370,206 quote for a Lenco Industries BearCat armored vehicle approved as an American Rescue Plan Act expenditure.
Wayne County Council allocated $350,000 at the commissioners’ recommendation for the armored vehicle. Retter had committed to paying any difference from his budget. He said there’s a 14-month lead time before delivery.
Butters asked why the sheriff’s armored vehicle cost nearly $50,000 more than one Richmond Police Department ordered as part of the city’s Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program ARPA expenditures. A contract for $320,533 was approved in December by the city’s Board of Public Works and Safety.
Retter said ordering in 2024 rather than 2023 resulted in a 13% cost increase, plus the sheriff’s vehicle has additional options, such as four-wheel drive, water fording capability and a winch system, that raised the price. Retter said he envisions using the BearCat as a rescue vehicle, not just using its armor.
Commissioners approved 2-1 allocating $150,000 in ARPA money for a dump truck purchased by the county’s highway department. Butters, who has said she opposes spending ARPA money on regular county expenses rather than community projects, voted against the motion.
The dump truck was part of funding recommendations Wayne County Council made to commissioners Feb. 7 that would use all but about $97,000 of the county’s uncommitted ARPA dollars. Those recommendations totaled about $2.2 million.
Butters requested commissioners commit to providing significant animal control funding. Plasterer said there’s $60,000 remaining from the $100,000 allocated in HELP to animal control after spending $40,000 for a consultant’s study of the county’s animal control situation. He and Dwenger said they’d need to hear the recommendations resulting from the study, which is being conducted this month, before deciding about animal control expenditures.
Commissioners delayed further discussion about what further ARPA expenditures they’ll recommend to council until their Feb. 21 meeting.
A version of this article appeared in the February 21 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.