Marshall County Coroner John Grolich approached the Marshall County Council Monday morning with additional appropriation requests totaling $28,000 for his department.
Grolich explained that there has been an increase in autopsies performed this year than what is normally budgeted. He added that it’s difficult to predict how many will be done in a year in order to properly budget money. He said many young people have perished in a number of different circumstances and autopsies are commonly ordered in most cases to determine manner and cause of death.
To help keep down expenses, Grolich works with Starke County Coroner Dannie Hoffer and uses the facility in Starke County to conduct autopsies. A board-certified pathologist from Fishers, Indiana travels to the county to perform services at a cost of $1,650. An additional $200 is required for toxicology tests.
Grolich asked for $2,000 for emergency deputy wages, $1,000 for morgue supplies, $3,000 for toxicology costs, $20,000 in autopsy expenses, and $2,000 to complete outfitting the coroner’s vehicle with proper emergency lights and a radio.
The council members unanimously approved the requests.
