Animal control contract renewed (01/02/07)

Jay County Commissioners today agreed to sign another one-year contract with county animal control officer Bill Fields and give him a $1,500 increase in his salary.

During their first meeting of 2007, commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Gary Theurer, and Faron Parr, praised Fields' responsibilities in the county and agreed to a salary of $37,000 for 2007, up from his 2006 salary of $35,500.

In his annual report, Fields told commissioners he had fielded 2,856 complaints and calls from county residents.

Commissioners today also learned that another confined animal feeding operation is planned for construction in Knox Township.

Siegrist Farms owners, Eric and Jani Siegrist, 084 South Ind. 1, notified commissioners that they had applied to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for an intent to construct permit for two wean-to-finishing buildings just west of Ind. 1 and south of Division Road.

Concerning CAFOs in the county, commissioners discussed a study currently underway by a Ball State University group.

Miller said that Dick Heupel, who is leading the study group, has indicated results of that study may be received sometime this month.

The study, Miller explained, may present ideas how to fairly regulate the increased CAFO construction and still satisfy rural residents' concerns.

"It's never going to be a win-win situation," Theurer said about finding harmony between the two groups.

Heupel is a former executive director of Jay County Development Corporation.

Additionally today, Miller was re-elected to serve as commissioner's president and Theurer was re-elected vice-president. Parr serves as president of the drainage board.

The board also again appointed Brad Burkett as commissioners' attorney.[[In-content Ad]]