Clergy and leaders from Faith in Indiana are urging the new Republican-led County Council to fund crisis response and other programs for the most vulnerable… and they showed up, in force, during a council meeting on Tuesday evening, Feb. 28.

“We are urging the Council to keep their pledge to match the city’s contribution of $2.6 million to fund a crisis response center,” said Rabbi Michael Friedland, Sinai Synagogue. “Our family members in crisis need a number to call, someone to come and a safe place to go.”

In Dec. 2021, the County Council unanimously voted to commit $2.6 million of American Rescue Plan dollars for a new crisis response system.  The Council at that time included three Republicans who supported the effort. One year later, Republican commissioners chose not to act on a contract that would have released that money.

In a Jan. 3 meeting with Faith in Indiana leaders, Commission President Baxmeyer promised to champion ARP funding for crisis response with the County Council. Since mid-January clergy leaders say Commissioner Baxmeyer and Council President Root have not responded to letters, e-mails and phone calls.

Clergy members voiced their concerns, stating the Republican County Council has reportedly chosen to spend all the remaining ARP dollars on other projects and are considering committing $600,000 of opioid settlement dollars for crisis response, which may be eligible for a match from the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Council President Carl Baxmeyer petitioned funding for the crisis center from the opioid settlement dollars, according to 95.3 MNC’s reporting partners at ABC 57.

“I said that we would continue to pursue the question of a behavioral crisis center,” says Carl Baxmeyer, St. Joe County Commissioner President. “When we received word about the opioid settlement and looked at the potential uses for the money, it became apparent to us, the commissioners anyway, here’s an opportunity to help with the behavioral crisis center.”

Ultimately the county council said they are concerned about a lack of specifics. Councilman Dan Schaetzle says he will present an amendment in the next meeting that states if they are unable to get a two-thirds or more match, the money will be given back to the county. That meeting and vote is set for March 14, ABC 57 reported.