There have been many accomplishments achieved over the past years while working with fellow Boone County Commissioners –
JUSTICE CENTER STEP-DOWN FACILITY
An important addition to our Justice Center is a true step-down facility designed to create an environment that moves an individual from incarceration back to their daily lives better equipped to live a more productive work and family life.
Boone County is a leader in the country for mental health treatment within our jail. This expansion will give us the facility and the tools to expand that work. Our former and current Sheriffs have had remarkable success in the area of mental health with measurable reductions in our recidivism rates.
The addition of the Community Corrections wing of the Justice Center, we believe, will allow a reduction in the number of individuals incarcerated, which is a significant savings of tax dollars, but also more importantly allowing those low-level offenders to return to supporting themselves and their families much sooner.
A MODERN CORONER’S OFFICE
Another significant addition to the Justice center is establishing a modern, efficient, and effective Coroner’s office. When I started as county commissioner in 2009 the coroner’s office was in their home. We have since moved the Coroner’s office into a county office building and now will be relocating it to the Justice Center. This is an especially important move for the citizens of the county who need to visit the coroner for family business.
The new coroner’s facility will provide deceased individuals with the utmost respect and dignity while giving their family members the privacy they need and deserve at this difficult time.
Another important benefit of the new coroner’s office will be the protection of the “chain of custody of evidence” when dealing with sensitive homicide cases by allowing the coroner to be on site with the sheriff’s officers to make investigations more thorough and efficient.
EFFECTIVE LONG-TERM PLANNING
As a life-long Boone County resident, I am well aware of our county history and the quality of life we all enjoy. To perpetuate this lifestyle, I am immensely proud of the efforts we have made toward effective long-term planning for our county facilities as we look to the future of Boone County while considering the rapid growth we’re experiencing today.
A complete county facility review assessment was recently completed, providing us with a clear understanding of the current and future needs of our county government for both space and functionality. Having looked at several possibilities, we will incorporate the results of the facility review into a strategic plan for our county’s facilities over the next 20-30 years.
OVERLAY DISTRICT ESTABLISHED
We recently adopted an Overlay District for the areas around our state roads throughout the county. This was an intense effort through the county Area Plan Office in partnership with the commissioner board. This document will serve as an important tool for the APC and the commissioners to use in future planning as development pressure is made on the areas outside of the city and town limits.
This overlay creates standards for development along with building standards to make these areas the most attractive possible and the least intrusive on the more rural areas of the county.
As I have said many times, the way to ensure poor results in development is to fail to plan. To this end, the Boone County Commissioners are now working toward an update of the County Comprehensive Plan.
ONGOING STATE GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT
I have worked diligently over the last 15 years to be involved with our state legislators to understand how legislative changes affect our constituents and our local government. I continuously review proposed legislation, communicate concerns, and offer insight to the legislators who represent us.
One example is Bill SB361 which was the parent legislation for Innovation Development Districts. Upon hearing of the legislation, I along with others worked with our state legislators to adopt revisions to the language that could have made the IDD districts much more intrusive.
On March 9th, it was announced Boone County will receive $8.2 million to replace two rural bridges. The money is part of $155.6 million in federal money INDOT will distribute throughout the state. Working with Highway Director, Nick Parr, a grant was applied for and accepted to offset the cost of repairing the county’s aging bridges. This is a prime example of how we continue to work with state and federal agencies to secure grant funding for Boone County infrastructure.
HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
Over the past several years we have created a Human Resources Department for county government employees. This effort has proven extremely valuable to our employees and has provided a new level of professionalism to how we handle employee issues.
This process includes updating our handbook to current standards, having training available on many subjects, developing an OSHA training protocol, and making our benefit package more competitive. This department has also helped us elevate our analysis of Health Insurance; saving the taxpayers well over one million dollars.
Much More Left to Do…
If I am elected, I will continue to work hard for the betterment of all Boone County residents. I have gained a great deal of education over these past years on how our county government really works, the many different and each important facets of public safety, our infrastructure challenges, the impact of growth and the importance of planning ahead. I look forward to putting this knowledge again to work for all of Boone County.