County's needle exchange program extended
ANDERSON — The needle exchange program in Madison County has been extended for another two years.
The Madison County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted to extend the program which has been operating in the county since 2021 through Aspire Health Indiana.
Commissioner Rick Gardner voted not to extend the program.
'Over the years needles have been found in the streets constantly,' Gardner said after the vote. 'I don't trust people to properly dispose of needles.'
County attorney Jeff Graham said at a previous meeting the Indiana General Assembly has approved the program through July 1, 2026.
He said the Madison County program would continue through 2027 unless lawmakers end the program in 2026.
The program administered by Aspire Health Indiana is currently authorized through March 2, 2025.
Julie Foltz, director for infectious disease services at Aspire, said there is a lot of misinformation about the program.
The program started in Madison County in 2015 with the Madison County Health Department originally operating it.
After the Madison County Council voted not to fund the program with local tax dollars, Aspire Health Indiana restarted the program in 2018.
The program was ended in June 2020, but the commissioners renewed it in March 2021.
Foltz said the goal of the program is to prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis C in the county.
'We schedule patients for medical care,' she said. 'We help them access medical care and provide housing assistance.'
Foltz said there are approximately 1,000 people in the program and 225 were added in the past year.
OTHER BUSINESS
The commissioners approved a build, operate transfer agreement for the Madison County Parks and Recreation Board.
County Engineer Jessica Bastin said the agreement allows the Park Board to request proposals on future projects.
County officials have designated $4 million in American Rescue Plan funds for the county's Parks and Recreation Board.
The first project will likely take place in the White River corridor between Anderson and Perkinsville. The project could include hiking trails, green space and a boat launch.
Officials hope to hire a contractor within the next three to five months and have a presentation to the public that would include trailheads with water access.
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