More cops, firefighters, money for homeless youth in Mishawaka? Pandemic relief money discussed

MISHAWAKA — One by one, social service leaders, business owners and program organizers spoke about their group's financial needs Monday night before a committee of the Mishawaka Common Council.

The goal was to convince the council that their organization deserves a portion of the $11.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act money the city received.

Last year, the council approved spending $1.19 million of the city's allotment for one-time bonuses in 2021 for police and other city services employees who kept Mishawaka running during the pandemic.

The remaining $10.7 million is still up for grabs, although the city administration has proposed spending all but about $1.7 million in two areas: $6 million for infrastructure — specifically on sewer projects mandated through the long-term storm water and sewer improvement plan — and $3 million for the hiring of more firefighters and police officers.

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Mayor Dave Wood, speaking Monday about his proposal for revenue replacement, is pushing for the use of $6 million for part of a three-phase sewer project on Spring and West streets this season, saving all residents from rate increases to help pay for the work.

Recent rule changes allow small communities to place ARP money into their general funds to replace revenue lost because of the pandemic.

More: Council approves premium pay for Mishawaka employees from COVID relief funds

Wood also has asked to hire three new police officers and six firefighters in efforts to bolster public safety in the city.

Citing the increases in the number of both police and fire calls, he wants to increase the number of uniformed police officers per shift from nine to 10.

Wood said the issue also would have to be negotiated with the FOP for it to become a reality.

Fire calls were up 17% last year. With the added positions, he said, firefighters would essentially staff a fourth ambulance he'll be asking the council to approve.

To help pay for the new additions, Wood suggests spending $3 million in American Rescue Plan money for the three police positions and three of the six firefighter-EMS positions. The administration secured an increase in EMS fees to cover the three other positions earlier this month when the council passed sweeping fee increases for many city services and permits.

Any changes also would have to be negotiated with the firefighters' union under its collective bargaining agreement and would need council approval.

The city would have to pay those additional salaries in the future from the general fund.

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The remaining $1.7 million has been considered "discretionary" money that the city and council are contemplating for possible disbursement to groups, agencies and businesses for their needs.

Here are the groups that came before the council committee to seek money from the city's allocation:

Young Minds Development Center, Mishawaka: Vanessa Frias, owner and director, told the council committee nearly all the children served at the child care facility live within a mile of the center at 1026 Dodge Ave. The center is seeking $266,000 for a variety of needs: fence and gate — $22,000; new roof — $40,000; playground resurfacing — $90,000; parking lot — $35,000; playground equipment — $24,000; new sidewalks — $20,000; new sink — $15,000; school-age fence — $20,000.

1Roof St. Joe County: Partnership between the United Way of St. Joseph County and the Boys & Girls Club seeks to create four county neighborhood centers to provide child care and health and social services. A southeast center is under construction on Fellows Street and Dubail Avenue in South Bend and will open in August. Land is being purchased for the northeast center from the city of South Bend near LaSalle Intermediate Center, while the group, led by United Way CEO Laura Jensen and Boys & Girls Club CEO Jacqueline Kronk, is looking for sites for a center in Mishawaka. Of the $42 million initiative for the neighborhood center concept, the group had sought $4 million, but Kronk said the city's help in exploring sites for the Mishawaka center and any possible financial help would be welcome.

Youth Service Bureau: Christina McGovern, director of development and marketing, explained that the agency that works with youths 12-24 who are experiencing homelessness, trauma, abuse and neglect is planning a new building on 14 acres at McKinley Avenue near Hickory Road for services. About 30% of the youths helped by the YSB are from Mishawaka, and the agency is seeking $375,000 in ARP funding to match a similar contribution from the county toward the $7 million building project.

Mishawaka High School Building Trades Program: Chris Elmerick told the council committee the building trades is exploring a change to add home rehabilitation to its offerings for students. Currently, the building trades program builds one new home per year, and Elmerick said with money, the department could buy one or two old homes and offer students education in renovations. When weather conditions are poor, the classes cannot work on a new build, and the class could shift to the renovation home to allow the students to have uninterrupted instruction. The department is seeking $400,000, but Emerick said any amount of money would help in securing a home for the department to renovate as part of the program expansion.

Free Your Wings: Aja Ellington, founder of the mentoring, life skills and community service agency for youths 13-22, said she is seeking $18,600 for securing a location for the mentoring services. Her organization was incorporated in 2020 and is hoping to expand.

The Res: Janet Hoke, president of the board, said the pandemic hampered revenue usually generated from rentals of the nature center's facilities, and the aging structures have been in need of work. The Res is seeking about $40,000 in improvements. Some of the improvements include: new windows in ranger cabin — $15,000; replace tractor bridge — $8,000; replace furnace in restrooms — $2,000; electric service upgrades and lane lighting — $1,500.

Mishawaka Troop Town: Dan Gann, representing the group that is proposing to bring a mini-house village for homeless veterans, is seeking $323,980 in ARP funding for for site preparation. While already raising more than $204,000, Gann said the group expects to purchase property directly next to the VFW Post 360 on East Jefferson Boulevard from the post for $180,000. The site preparation request would include: $105,000 for the land purchase; $64,000 for cistern and underground work; $96,000 for building and tree clearing; $49,260 for grading of property and retaining wall.

Dojo Creative: Douglas Elder, co-owner of the marketing agency, is seeking $100,000 for the façade of its new building renovation. Elder said the business purchased the former Dill's Camera Shop building and is undergoing a $600,000 renovation. He said there is little financial assistance for downtown businesses for improvements.

Motels4Now: Sheila McCarthy, Our Lady of the Road’s manager of the program, told of the group's efforts to use city and county tax dollars to provide low-barrier shelter to the chronically homeless at area motels. The county has offered an $825,000 amount for a six-month extension of costs for services, and McCarthy asked the council committee for $825,000 that would unlock the county's allocation and extend the agency's programming for a year.

Council member Matt Mammolenti, committee chair, said the information from Monday's session was going to be taken under consideration. He added there was no timetable on when any decisions would be made about the funding requests.

Email South Bend Tribune reporter Greg Swiercz at gswiercz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: American Rescue Plan Mishawaka agency requests