Commissioners deny request to take Stash Uncovered educational trailer to Porter County Health & Safety Fair

 The Marshall County Commissioners denied the request of Breathe Easy Marshall County to take the educational cargo trailer called “Stash Uncovered” to the Porter County Health Safety Fair in August for 3 hours. 

During Monday’s commissioner meeting, Annette Haining, the Marshall County Tobacco Education Coordinator, asked for permission to take the trailer outside the county.

The Stash Uncovered trailer is a mobile education trailer designed and created in cooperation with Breathe Easy Marshall County Alliance and the Marshall County Health Department.

The trailer was designed to help parents and guardians recognize potential dangers in their children's environments. This mobile educational trailer is designed as a mock teenage bedroom, filled with hidden items that could signal substance use, such as disguised smoking and vaping devices.

While the exhibit was created to be set up at community events throughout Marshall County, when the Porter County Health Department asked to have Stash Uncovered at their August event, Haining thought it would show how Marshall County is working to educate adults on teen smoking and drug abuse.  

Commissioner Stan Klotz commented, “As I recall, when that trailer was built that was built, for the purpose of, basically staying in Marshall County?”

Haining said she did not know or understand that. Since she is not a Marshall County employee, she also didn’t know things couldn’t be taken out of the county until recently.   

Commissioner Jesse Bohannon inquired whether the use of the trailer was specific and not being used by the Health Department for any other purpose.  He also questioned if it was in sound condition, and Commissioner Klotz said he’d heard a comment that a wheel bearing was going out. He went on to say he didn’t think the maintenance on the trailer had been taken care of like it should be, “because nobody is really in charge of it.”

Klotz said he had an issue with taking the Health Department equipment out of the county and said he knows there is interest in selling it if the hospital is interested. He went on to say he didn’t think the Health Dept had an interest in doing the program anymore.   

Haining said she would hate to see the collaboration go between Breathe Easy and the Health Department because they have been so involved with the schools. 

Commissioner Jesse Bohannon said, “I think Stan, since it was set up just for that purpose, I don’t know that the county necessarily has a value in that.  If it’s not something we want to continue to be involved with.”     

Bohannon went on to say they could sell the trailer for practically nothing, $1, as long as they commit to continuing to service Marshall County.

Klotz did comment that the Health Department management may want to do something different. He wasn’t sure they still wanted to be responsible for the trailer.

Bohannon said, “I didn’t want to hamper Breathe Easy’s ability to fulfill their mission as long as that commitment remains to operate in Marshall County.”

Bohannon made the motion to deny the request to take the Stash Uncovered trailer to Porter County in August for a Safety Fair.

Haining reminded the commissioners that she is employed through a grant from the state and doesn’t have the additional funds to purchase or operate the trailer.