Plymouth City Council tables Dustin's Place request for $50,000 to find additional funds

Dustin’s Place, a children’s grief center in Plymouth, was back before the Plymouth Common Council meeting on Monday to request $50,000 for the build-out of the center.

Executive Director Viki Brown was at the December council meeting and requested $50,000 to help fund the buildout for the center in the LifePlex.  She told the board they received a $316,000 Lilly Matching Grant so they are working toward that. The Marshall County Community Foundation granted them $50,000 towards the project and the Bourbon Town Council gave $10,000 while the Culver Town Council is looking for $18,000 to give the project and the Marshall County Council gave $75,000.

Dustin’s Place was given a 10-year lease at LifePlex for 65,000 square feet for $1 per year with a subsequent 10-year lease where the amount might change.

Plymouth Clerk-Treasurer Lynn Gorski said the only funding she could find was in the city’s Unrestricted Opioid Funds.  There is $20,205 appropriate for 2025.  There is a cash balance in the Unrestricted Opioid Fund for a total of $35,648.77.  She said an additional appropriation would have to be done to pay out that total amount.  The city is short $14,351.23 of the request. 

Brown said the Lilly Endowment Grant must be matched this year to receive it for the build-out.

The City Council appeared to support the project but tabled their decision to allow the administration time to find the additional $14,000 needed to meet the request.