Troup County Board of Commissioners approves grants for health court, DUI court, others

Published 10:00 am Thursday, June 17, 2021

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At its board meeting on Tuesday, the Troup County Board of Commissioners voted to approve grant awards and matches to fund the Coweta Circuit Mental Health Court, the Troup County DUI/Drug Court, the Felony Adult Drug Court and Family Treatment Court for fiscal year 2022. All award letters for these programs came from the Council of Accountability Court Judges Funding Committee.

The Coweta Circuit Mental Health Court had received an award letter for $230,513 with a match of $25,613, according to a meeting agenda document. The match, which will come from the coordinator’s salary, is funded by a cash match from the City of LaGrange and the Carroll County Board of Commissioners.

“This is a reimbursable grant, just like they always are,” said accountability courts manager Denise Smith.

In an interview, Smith explained that Coweta Circuit Mental Health Court serves Troup and Carroll County.

“The Mental Health Court is for misdemeanor or felony offenders whose offenses were related to their mental illness,” she said. “It allows for them to receive treatment as a sentencing option in resolving their case.”

The Troup County DUI/Drug Court received an award letter for $97,499 with a match of $10,833.

“That match will come from the [Drug and Alcohol Treatment Education] fund [and is] also a reimbursable grant,” Smith said.

The Troup County DUI/Drug Court program, which is offered by the Troup County Accountability Court, helps non-violent substance abuse offenders by putting them through a judicially-supervised treatment program, according to the Troup County website.  The Felony Drug Court had received an award letter for $141,743 with a match of $15,749.

“The match will come from the case manager’s salary and benefits, which is funded through the collection of participant fees,” says the agenda document.

This grant is also reimbursable.

The Felony Adult Drug Court program, which is offered by the Troup County Accountability Court, offers sentencing alternatives to offenders with offenses related to drug addiction.   

The Family Treatment Court received an award letter for $157,236 with a match of $17,471. The match will come from the case manager’s salary and benefits. This grant is also reimbursable.

The Family Treatment Court, which is offered by the Troup County Accountability Court, addresses the safety and health needs of children with substance-abusing parents.

In other action at the meeting, the board also voted on the following:

4 To approve Caroline Johnson as the new Deputy Troup County Clerk

4 to award a bid of $38,500 to Blackwell’s Inc. to resurface the restroom and locker room floors at the Mike Daniel Recreation Center. Funding would come from the SPLOST V fund.

4 To paint the interior and exterior of the Troup County Jail & sheriff’s facility for $15,862.67 and $12,952.10. Funding would come from SPLOST V.