MOUNT VERNON — Agencies applying for 2025 Knox County Senior Levy funding must be more specific.
The senior levy funds organizations serving Knox County residents 60 and older. The levy intends to provide services and programming that help keep people independent in their respective setting.
The Senior Levy Advisory Board vets applications and makes recommendations to the commissioners.
The levy is anticipated to generate just over $1 million this year. Nine agencies applied for funding.
“Years ago when they were bringing in big money like that there were only three or four agencies applying, and it was easier to distribute the money,” Board Coordinator Julie Miller told the Knox County commissioners on Tuesday.
“Now it’s becoming a little bit of a nightmare, honestly, because we have great organizations doing great work, and we’ve got to make the recommendations of where we think funding ought to go.”
Tightened standards
The board created standards agencies must meet to receive funding.
Agencies must now apply for a minimum of $10,000. Miller said the board received many small requests ranging from $2,000 to $4,000, primarily for capital improvements such as replacing the flooring.
“We felt that doesn’t really meet the mission of the levy,” Miller said of the capital improvement requests.
The board requires agencies to prove that they serve Knox County residents and that they are over 60.
“We had numbers coming in that looked real good, but the money wasn’t flowing to seniors; it was flowing to just whoever they were serving at the time,” Miller said.
Organizations must also prove how their services keep people independent.
Board members make site visits to the organizations to help them evaluate applications.
Miller anticipates bringing the board’s recommendations to the commissioners by the end of February.
She cautioned that the board will have to reduce funding for agencies or not fund them.
“We don’t have as much money to work with, and from what I can tell and what I know of the agencies, they all are doing great work,” Miller said. “We’re really going to have to buckle down on the ‘independent at home.”
KCSO
On Thursday, Knox County Sheriff Daniel Weckesser reported that he, Deputy Chief Richard Miller, Major Mark Perkins, and Capt. Scott McKnight are learning a lot every day.
“I believe that after a few weeks we will be a lot more efficient with what we’re doing,” he said.
The current jail population is 18 females and 51 males. One inmate is at the mental health facility Twin Valley (now known as Central Ohio Behavioral Healthcare), and four are waiting for beds to open up.
The jail staff is down by two. Weckesser is interviewing two applicants.
He must also hire three deputies in the patrol division, two for Centerburg coverage. One deputy will retire at the end of February, and one is on military leave.
Detective positions needing filled are the children’s services and drug investigators. Weckesser hopes to fill those positions next week, which will open up positions in the patrol unit.
Two civilian hires will start at the police academy next month. It will be approximately nine months before they go on the road.
One new hire is undergoing training under a field training officer (FTO). The officer will be under the FTO for up to three months learning procedures, county locations, and other on-the-job training.
Parr Automotive is outfitting three new cruisers. Weckesser hopes they will be ready by the end of February. Two cruisers need repairs and are unavailable.
Service and repairs are completed on the patrol boat.
The evidence room needs upgrades. Weckesser will work with County Administrator Jason Booth to evaluate what needs done to accommodate the evidence the KCSO is required to keep in perpetuity.
Weckesser, Deputy Chief Miller, and the commissioners adjourned into executive session to discuss personnel.
