County to be lead agency $250,000 Workforce Development Grant proposal

The Putnam County Commissioners unanimously agreed Monday to submit a proposal for a grant that could bring a quarter million dollars into the county.

Greencastle Putnam County Economic Development Director Bill Dory came before the commissioners at their bi-monthly meeting to discuss the Workforce Development Program Grant administered by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA).

The program, which is in the proposal phase, could bring $250,000 into Putnam County for a CNC machining program.

Although the county would serve as the lead agency, the proposed program would be implemented by Area 30 Career Center. The arrangement would be similar to past agreements in which agencies such as Reelsville Water Authority were the actual recipients, but a government entity must serve as the conduit for the grant.

The program would involve a 20- to 22-week training course for adults, although the equipment would be available for Area 30 high school students as well.

Dory said a number of local industries have expressed interest in bringing such training to the area.

At this point, only the initial application is due. With the commissioners' blessing, Dory and Grant Administrator Kristy Jerrell can continue to work with Area 30 Career Center and others to move forward with the proposal. The final decision rests with Area 30 and whether or not any issues arise that could delay the submission to a future funding cycle.

If the proposal is accepted by OCRA, the county would move on to submit a full application by Oct. 23.

Final approval of recipients by OCRA is expected late in the year, with release of funds expected sometime in 2016.

Dory said OCRA grants usually run on an 18-month implementation window once funds are released. After the meeting, Dory also noted that the welding program at Area 30 has been very successful with 100 percent of adult students completing the class and 80 percent receiving their American Welding Society certification in the last year.

Should the county progress in the process, a 20-percent local match is required. Dory said if it gets to that point, he is likely to approach the commissioners for a portion of the local match from the War Chest in the Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) Fund.

In other business:

* County Highway Supervisor Mike Ricketts reported that Bridge 41 on County Road 800 North is open. The area still needs paved, but at this point the rock is settling and the bridge is safe for travel.

The project will be complete once paving is over.

Paving is ongoing on County Road 700 South, with other crews also performing chip and seal work at Heritage Lake.

Ricketts reported that even recent dry weather -- Monday notwithstanding -- hasn't allowed crews to catch up after a wet July. Crews are still a month behind.

The county may look into using an outside contractor to catch up on needed roadwork.

The commissioners also officially approved the addition of two dead end roads to the county inventory.

One, the section of County Road 475 East south of U.S. 40 in Jefferson Township, was promised by commissioners in 2012 to be added to the inventory, but official approval never came.

The other road, County Road 1000 North in Jackson Township, has a longer history, as commissioners pledged to take on its care and maintenance back in 1978, even revisiting the issue in the early 1980s.

However, no official step was ever taken until Monday evening.

Both roads are now officially under care of the Putnam County Highway Department.

* Commissioners officially signed contracts with Interact for 911 software upgrades.

Although commissioners gave their approval to purchase the software from Interact several months ago, not all contracts were drawn up. Since the completion of the contracts, County Attorney Jim Ensley and 911 Director Dave Costin have been closely reviewing the language of the nearly $1 million project.

With the signing of contracts, Interact sales people have said the county can expect a six- to nine-month implementation process, although Costin has learned from some other counties it could be a year or more.

* Sheriff Scott Stockton and Chief Deputy Phil Parker presented information about a new healthcare contract with Quality Correctional Care.

Besides saving the county $3,000 compared to its old contract with Advanced Correctional Healthcare, officials hope the switch will bring an improved level of car.

Parker said there were reporting issues with the old vendor and that the contract with Quality includes four hours a week of mental healthcare, which was not previously an option.

* Following up on a query from the last meeting, County Attorney Jim Ensley said that a night vision rifle scope the sheriff's department is wishing to sell must be sold at auction, given its estimated value of $1,600.