Lyon County commissioners didn’t approve matching funding for a grant through Community Corrections during Thursday’s meeting.
On Wednesday, commissioners heard from Robert Sullivan, Community Corrections director, about a JJA incentive grant. The $18,120 grant will have to be met dollar-for-dollar by Lyon County. Sullivan asked commissioners if they would be willing to fund that grant. It would be used for a community service project that will involve law enforcement in Lyon and Chase County.
“The primary focus is to target graffiti in and around Emporia,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan said the grant would help implement a program that would involve a restorative justice model, which uses low-risk offenders. The offenders would be asked to re-pay for their crime through graffiti removal.
During Thursday’s meeting, commissioners expressed concern over the funding needed for the program. With the county’s 1-percent sales tax still up in the air until January, commissioners are being cautious they said.
“I’m a little concerned how we are going to fund everything if things go south,” Scott Briggs, Lyon County Commission chairman said.
Commissioner Marshall Miller moved to approve the grant funding. However, there was no second from either Briggs or Commissioner Bob Davis. The motion died for a lack of second.
Sullivan will have another chance to apply for the grant in 2009 and said he will bring it back to commissioners when he starts working on the block grant for fiscal year 2010.
“In my opinion this is a great project,” Briggs said. “I would feel more comfortable in February or March when we will know funding will come in.”
In other business, commissioners approved the 2009 allocation plan for the senior centers in Lyon County. During Wednesday’s meeting, Doug Stueve, of the Lyon County Department on Aging, outlined a the distribution of $64,800.
The money, which is mill levy funding, will be distributed as follows:
• Americus Senior Center, $6,972
• Emporia Senior Center, $28,008
• Hartford Senior Center, $2,424
• Neosho Rapids Senior Center, $3,048
• Olpe Senior Center, $2,820
• Lyon County Council on Aging, $200
• Senior Nutrition Program at Heritage House, $7,200
• Potential cook site, $3,300
• Emergency reserves, $5,008
Davis said the amount differ because some senior centers have their own building and have to maintain it while others are provided a space.
romano1784 (anonymous) says...
sure, lets ban smoking and create an unenforcable ordinance, but not let offenders of REAL crimes do community service by cleaning this crap town.
December 12, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dhcc66 (anonymous) says...
romano, don't get mad at the county for denying the funding....there are already cleanup programs started by the city. if things come around financially in 2009, the program sounds like it's in.
if you want to get mad, get mad at the kids for doing it in the first place....and maybe if parents in this city would pay attention to what their kids do....that would be another good place to start.
December 12, 2008 at 5:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LifeGoesOn (anonymous) says...
As I said on the other story about this grant, The county Should Not use tax payers money for matching funds for this grant, The funds would total over $36000.00. That is just to much money to waste when it not needed.
getting low risk offenders to pay for their crime by doing a little cleaning and some painting over graffiti is a good idea, but THIRTY SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS! seems a bit over the top.
If these offenders are to PAY for their crime, have them buy the cleaning supplies/paint themselves, Then report in to the probation office when the graffiti is removed or covered in a manner good enough for the city/county, seems pretty simple to me If the offenders do not complete the task in a timely manner, again, set by the city/county then they GO TO JAIL.
I am pretty sure this or something close to this idea could be done for less then another 18 grand of tax money
December 12, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TeamKansas (anonymous) says...
In my opinion these low risk offenders are the same ones that are out there vandalizing county signs. The same signs I have read articles where the county is crying about how much money its going to cost to replace. You cant have it both ways .... Either go after these criminals or take your medicine.
December 13, 2008 at 5:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LifeGoesOn (anonymous) says...
TeamKansas, I dont understand your comment? No one is saying not to go after these offenders?
December 13, 2008 at 5:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )