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Hardin County received more than $119,000 in the opioid settlements and commissioners approved several items pertaining to spending the money at the Hardin County Commissioners Court meeting on Jan. 9.
First, the court approved a request by County Auditor Angela Gore to amend the Fiscal Year 2023 budget by creating the Opioid Settlement Fund and included creating a new revenue line item for $119,228 and a new line item for Minor Equipment and Supplies for the same amount.
The court also granted approval for Gore’s second request, which was to amend the FY 2024 Opioid Settlement Fund by creating a Minor Equipment and Supplies line item for $119,277.
Sheriff Mark Davis requested to fund the remainder of the Bulletproof Vest Project not covered by a $40,000 grant his department received. Davis stated the grant was a 50-50 split. The money for eight additional vests will come from the Opioid Settlement Fund. According to the sheriff, the eight vests are for a county attorney investigator, constables and another deputy.
The total amount of the bulletproof vest project is an estimate $75,000, according to Davis.
Resolutions were approved for two departments to submit applications for the 2024-2025 Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funding program, part of the governor’s Criminal Justice Division (CJD). According to the resolutions, the grants will not exceed $275,000 each. Hardin County is required to contribute 20% match for each grant.
District Attorney Rebecca Walton and Hardin County Crime Victims Assistant Center Director Jennifer Walters requested the applications. Walton stated she will use the grant money for a victim assistance coordinators (VAC) position.
Commissioners also approved a resolution for Grant Coordinator Clay Woodard to submit an application to the FY 2025 Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities (LETPA) Sustaining Tactical Response Team Project Grant Funding program of the CJD. According to the resolution, the grant will not exceed $60,000 and there is no match from the county.
Also, the county agrees to return the grant money in full in the event of loss or misuse of the grant funds.