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Marcus Briggs recognized, budget approved

Marcus Briggs

Amid the business of the budget, deliberations on an opioid settlement and talking EMS, the county commissioners took time to recognize a longtime servant in the community.

The commissioners approved a Citation of Excellence recognizing Marcus Briggs for 34 years of service as chaplain at the Rouse Home, Warren General Hospital and, most recently, at the Warren County Jail.

Commissioner Ben Kafferlin said Briggs wasn’t able to receive the citation in person due to health issues.

“His heart for justice and mercy shows through his countless interactions with those he has counseled over the years,” the citation states. “Through his position, he has demonstrated genuine kindness, and sincere compassion to all in need. He has given of himself when asked, and this has raised the bar.”

The citation details some of his contributions in service at the county jail — a program pairing inmates with local churches, inmate movie nights, finding and screening volunteers for program in the jail, the Bars and Stripes newsletter and starting backpack and Christmas programs to benefit the children of incarcerated individuals.

Briggs was instrumental in starting the RELATE program in the jail along with implementing the Bars and Stripes newsletter.

“Marcus is a great man who has had a tremendous positive influence on the inmates,” Warden Jon Collins said.

BUDGET APPROVED

The Warren County Commissioners have approved a 2022 budget that does not include any tax increases.

The panel approved the spending plan during Wednesday’s meeting.

Lisa Hagberg, the county’s director of finance and administration, said that the budget totals $20.8 million.

Further, she explained that health insurance costs remained the same as 2021 and that the county did budget less on the tax revenue side as they “took into consideration some tax appeals” that are currently pending.

EMS RESPONSE PLAN DISCUSSED

Public Safety Director Ken McCorrison said about half of the county’s emergency medical service agencies have signed on to a revamped response plan with the rest still reviewing the new document and discussing it with their respective memberships.

Kafferlin said the plan is important because it mirrors plans being implemented in Erie and Crawford counties.

“(It is) not going to fix the EMS crisis,” he cautioned. “Our hope would be it helps mitigate it. It helps us plan.”

Kafferlin explained that the plan includes a provision for a shared employee among the three counties. Each of the county is planning to contribute towards the cost of that employee — the county’s share is about $8,000 and can be funded via American Rescue Plan dollars — to oversee and administer the plan.

He said there is “no clear owner” of the current plan. “There are no teeth. Having the majority of our EMS agencies… cede some authority to the shared employee is a good step in the right direction,” calling it a “small price to pay to administer that plan.”

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