Commissioners vote 2-1 to support $75,000 for Dustin's Place building project

The Marshall County Commissioners voted 2-1 this week to support the County Council’s pledge from December 2024 to donate $75,000 to Dustin’s Place.

Dustin’s Place provides support for children ages 4 through 18 and adults at NO COST. It provides a safe space for children and families to grieve after the death of a loved one. In addition to its on-site grief support groups, Dustin's Place provides community grief support groups for children throughout Marshall County and St Joseph County. 

Executive Director Viki Brown has presented the program's plans to expand to the County Commissioners and Council in the past.  She was back Monday seeking the commissioner’s support for a $75,000 pledge the County Council put forward last December. Brown said the council would look for another $75,000 to add to the initial amount, but Brown said she was hoping for $180,000.

Dustin’s Place has a 10-year lease with a 10-year extension with LifePlex for 65,000 square feet. They are seeking funding to convert the space into multiple spaces, including 10 group rooms, an art expression room, a physical expression room, a sensory room, a dining hall, an individual therapy room, a board meeting room, and two offices.  Brown said they would be in one location and make full use of their facility at times convenient to those they serve.  Currently, their space is only available to them two evenings a month.

When asked about assistance from other communities, Brown told the commissioners that they received a $316,000 Lilly Endowment grant. Bourbon granted $10,000, and Culver verbally committed to finding $18,000, but they haven’t granted it yet. Plymouth is in full support but needs to look through its finances. Brown requested $50,000 from Plymouth. Bremen tabled her request for $30,000, and LaPaz and Argos haven’t been approached yet.   Brown said they still have $138,851 to raise if the county funds the full amount. 

Commissioner Stan Klotz said, “I support funding programs, but I really struggle with putting tax dollars into a non-profit when you don’t own the building.”  Klotz said Senate Bill 1 will force the county to reevaluate everything they do.  He said his comments are not a negative to the program because the kids need this kind of support, but the county will see property tax cuts, and they need to figure out how that will be handled.

Commissioner and former County Council member Jesse Bohannon said he wanted to honor the council’s commitment and motioned to send favorable support to the County Council to appropriate the $75,000 pledge.  The vote was 2-1, with Klotz voting no.    

With what is going on in Indianapolis, Commissioner Adam Faulstich said, what if funding dries up from the other communities?  She said they have received several grants but would need everyone’s support to complete the building project.  The commissioners decided to set up a subrecipient agreement that would only allow the county funds to be used for the building project, and if it didn’t happen, the funds would be returned.