So let's come back for our work session. I think we have, I'm not sure this packet was updated. I know
we have, oh, we do. It has been updated. First item is the syringe service renewal. Ms. Kelly, while
she's coming up,
this is a renewal. Does this have to be ratified next week? It wouldn't be. This is a notice meeting
and this is typically will do renewals that wanted to verify that. Thank you.
Good afternoon. Thank you so much for adding this on. So it was just a lot of paperwork. So we had a
little bit of an unexpected delay, but wanted to make sure that we got this in front of you. So just
requesting to renew this program, just a little bit of history. The program began in 2015 in response
to a Hepatitis C public health emergency declaration. Cases have been trending down, but Monroe County
has experienced an increase of nearly 32% in acute and chronic rates.
between 2023 and 2024. So additionally, Monroe County has seen an increase in newly reported HIV cases
over the past two years, really just emphasizing the importance of prevention strategies and programs
to reduce transmission risk. So we're just asking for approval to continue this program and I think
I would be happy to speak about the program as well. Sure. This year is our second year of being the
CDC's center of excellence. We're getting ready to open and have an open house for a recovery community
organization. That always kills me. They call it RCO and I have to explain it because it's like, what
is an RCO? We just got our building. We're getting ready to have an open house. We got our railway done.
We have a wonderful place there.
I think we're a pretty integral part of this community. And with you guys and the state and all of us
have entered a point of synergy that I think is amazing. And so I don't want to say much. I think you
guys know who I am and what we do. And I hope it's just something we all agree on. There's also, if
you ever have problems, you can come talk to me and I'll fix them. So what we do here is saving lives.
What we do is the hard conversations, the things nobody wants to see. Sometimes people don't like that.
It's just like the garbage, man. You know what I mean? We have to do it. We have to do it to make sure
our people are OK. We dropped 22% in Indiana of overdose deaths. No one else did. That's us. You know
what I mean? That's Monroe County and the IRA and the Health Department funneling stuff out, funneling
resources to anywhere we could. It is literally a point of pride that all of us went together and made
a building and a van so we can get out to places. So I say thank you, as long as I really want this
done, but thank you for letting us do this, and let's just keep doing it.
Yeah. Thank you. Thanks for being here. It's really important and there are fewer and fewer counties
in the state doing this work. So we really appreciate your work in the community and we're very happy
to support it. All of our work. Yeah. It's all of our work. It is. It is. It's important work. Questions,
comments? Yes. Thank you so much for what you're doing. I know it's not always easy.
are probably a lot of challenges to deal with, but we really appreciate it, and this is really an important
program to keep supported. I like challenges. Apparently you do. Because you're certainly going to get
them. And you've conquered many, so thank you for that.
Yes, so I know that needle syringe exchange programs are dropping like flies around the country and
across the state and it's incredibly important we preserve them. I remember several years ago hearing
an elected official in another county say that individuals in recovery could just or trying to recover
could just use livestock needles and that was incredibly dehumanizing and
sad and uninformed, um, an evidence-based and that was monstrous. So, um, we cannot go back to those
days and this is an important step towards not going back to those days. Thank you. I will say one thing
on that. Uh, we have seen that here and there and we don't have to be that. The one thing I love about
Indiana is we are us. Bloomington has been a beacon for places before, you know, people ran here because
we are the place that you're safe at. And I think that, uh,
that old antiquated horror story of a show cannot come back up again. You know what I mean? But thank
you for flagging that, Jody. Yeah. Thank you. Great. Any public comment on this item? You can raise
your hand in teams or come to the podium. All those in favor of approving this Rune Service Renewal
Agreement? I thought we already have one. Do we have a motion?
I'll go ahead and make a motion to approve the syringe service renewal. Fund name health, fund number
1159, the amount of $20,000. Second. So same public comments and all in favor of approving the syringe
service renewal signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries three zero. Thank you. Thank you guys so
much. Thank you. Next item.
I think you could make a motion on this one. Moves that the remaining 2025 Sophia Travis community service
grant agreements. Fund names, county general and donations fund number 1041 16 in an amount of $10,050 from
fund number 1,000 and $3,000 from fund number 4116. I'll second that. Yes, Ms. Turner-King. Good morning,
commissioners. These three contracts are the remaining ones from the Sophia Travis grant cycle this
year. They were not originally presented with the first batch because
Along with receiving funds from the Sophia Travis account line, these three contracts are receiving
funds from the council donation account line, which encompasses the funds that the Community Foundation
had collected in memory of Cheryl Munson. So there are three organizations, Grace Center, Harrodsburg,
Heritage Days, and Girls Inc. For the Sophia Travis account lines,
those three organizations will receive a total of $10,050, and then each of them will receive $1,000
from the council donation line. Thank you. Comments or questions, Commissioner Jones? Commissioner Redira?
No. Any public comment on this item?
All those in favor of approving the remaining 2025 Sophia Travis Community Service Grant Agreement signify
by saying aye. Motion carries 3-0. Thank you. We don't have anything else, do we? Oh yeah, we got the
bond. Thank you. I'm going to make a motion that we approve the bond, the elected official bond for
our surveyor. Second.
We have a motion and a second. Any comments? No, it's very straightforward. All those in favor of approving
the elected official bond for our survey are signified by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries three, zero.
And our next meeting is December 18th and we will reserve this meeting at one o'clock here in the NETU
Hill Room. Thanks everyone.