Community members are looking to local leaders when it comes to making major change in county

People want to make sure local leaders hear them when it comes to money for public safety.

Care in the city... we'll get to that in a moment... but first the public went face to face with vigo county council members on another issue they say needed attention.

News 10's sarah lehman was there.

In tonights top story... she's live in our newsroom with more on what they want local leaders to hear.

Tonight -- before a vigo county council meeting... a group of people gathered in front of the annex to talk about alternatives to putting someone in jail.

Like mental health help... or rehab.

They say they wanted to grab the attention of the vigo county council members.

As the money set aside county public safety continues to add up... council woman lisa spence bennett says their could be enough money to set aside funding to help people stay out of the jail!

"she kind of highlighted the fact that there were these millions of dollars that had been growing in the public safety budget and there had been no plans made for this at all."

Tuesday -- a handful of people showed up before the regular county council meeting to get their voices heard.

Nat} "care not cages.

Care not cages."

The group wants some money to go toward mental health services... drug rehabilitation... homelessness intervention services and more.

"instead of filling up all of the cells and the new cells that we're already building right now we want to help these people to where they don't get lost in the system."

They want local leaders to know they're watching what they do when it comes to extra money.

"it is about priorites are we going to prioritze putting more people into jail or are we going to prioritize getting mental health help for people in town who need mental health help."

The group talked about going out there before every county council meeting.

They also discussed demonstrating before city council meetings as well.

We did reach out to the county council no one was immediately available for comment.

Now...also tonight...people in the medical field in terre haute were protesting tonight..

But this stand was to end racism.

It's new for you tonight on nightwatch.

People in the medical field are also protesting to end racism.

Tonight -- health care tonight -- tonight -- health care workers and students marched for the "black lives matter" movement.

The march is called "white coats for black lives".

Dozens of local health care professionals and students gathered at the vigo county public library.

They say they realize there is injustice