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player ready...Tuesday morning, the Porter County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the presentation of $125,000 in opioid funds between four nonprofits and the Porter County Health Department.
The Caring Place will receive $30,722; Three20 will receive $25,000; Community Change Center will receive $23,688; Moraine House will receive $18,000; and the Health Department will receive $27,590. Megan Wichlinski, a member of the committee that nominated the organizations, said eight were interviewed before narrowing down to the five recommended to the board.
Jessica Luth, president and CEO of The Caring Place, said that while her organization is known for its domestic violence services, they also help women in recovery. “We are the lucky ones to see these families survive,” she said. “They are close to death sometimes.”
Allen Grecula, director of Three20 Recovery, said his certified recovery organization, based in Chesterton, employs peers who have recovered from addiction themselves. “What that really does is give hope,” he said. The nonprofit offers programming in cooking and nutrition, fitness, music, art and faith.
“This is not just for people who are in recovery, but for people who want to support those who are in recovery,” pointed out Board of Commissioners Vice President Barb Regnitz, R-Center, who serves on the Opioid Committee.
Community Change Center was started by Porter County Sheriff’s Office Social Worker Sam Burgett and has the goal of meeting clients’ most basic needs. “If we can’t meet all the basic needs of someone, then typically they can’t focus on their recovery,” she said. “We would not be where we are without Porter County’s support.”
Moraine House in Valparaiso has been around since 1976 and was the first in Porter County to deal with substance abuse, according to Executive Director Michael O’Connor. He said the live-in facility for 13 has been able to replace the roof and remodel all client rooms in the house, which dates to the turn of the last century, thanks to ongoing support from the county. “The house was like something out of the ‘70s,” he said. “They (clients) do notice it when things change.”
The Health Department will use its grant toward its Find Help website, which provides services for Porter County residents who need help, as well as its new peer recovery initiative.
In other business, the board unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding between the town of Hebron, the Boone Township Trustee, the Porter Township Trustee, and themselves to create a committee to study the need for regional fire and emergency services for Southwest Porter County. “There are no commitments to this,” said Board of Commissioners President Ed Morales, R-South. “There are no obligations.”
The board also unanimously approved a zoning map amendment requested by Good Oil Company for 597 W. U.S. 30 in Valparaiso from high intensity commercial (CH) to medium intensity commercial (CM), with the condition that turnaround infrastructure for the largest possible fire equipment be built into the site, which will house a convenience store and four other commercial buildings. At its last meeting, the board had asked for further clarification on plans for septic from the petitioner.
“I’m happy with the concessions that you’ve made,” Morales said. “You’ve done your due diligence. I don’t take rezoning lightly.”
Finally, Morales made a point at the end of the meeting to address a rumor he said he heard last week that the South County data center proposal was still alive and well. “That’s not true,” he said. “That application expired. We said in our board meeting we were done with that. I just want to make it clear – any kind of nonsense like that is not true.”
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.