July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Cemetery use of brush axe OK'd by county
Jay County Commissioners
The Jay County Commissioners gave permission for the highway department to clear brush on an access road going back to a Jefferson Township cemetery, even though performing maintenance on the drive is technically illegal.
Jefferson Township trustee Jerry Monroe approached the commissioners to ask if the Jay County Highway Department could run its brush ax down the access roadway to the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery off of county road 575 South, which is owned by the Jay County Cemetery Commission.
"The drive is kind of growing in," Monroe said. "It's a real hindrance to get in there ..."
Highway superintendent Ken Wellman said he thinks the county has helped with such maintenance in the past, but wanted to check with the commissioners.
The commissioners didn't object as long as Monroe checked with the adjacent property owners, since the brush ax will hack through the trees and greenery and could throw debris onto their property.
"I don't have a problem with running the brush ax back there," said commissioner Milo Miller Jr.
Monroe also mentioned that the driveway is severely rutted and asked if the county would be able to grade and lay stone.
The commissioners hesitated on that one, however.
"Technically you can't do it," said attorney Lon Racster, since the driveway is not a county owned road. "Legally you can't do it."
The commissioners suggested that Monroe contact a private contractor for that work.
"We shouldn't even be running the brush ax down there," acknowledged Miller.
The commissioners, however, are expecting townships governments to be eliminated in the near future, a move that has been discussed in the state legislature in recent years. If - although more likely when - townships governments are eliminated, cemetery maintenance will become a responsibility of the county.
On that reasoning, told Wellman to clear the brush on the drive if the adjacent property owners give permission.
In other business this morning, the commissioners:
•Signed an emergency claim for $10,000 to First Merchants Bank. The bank is providing a $20,000 loan to the county to purchase a used tractor for the highway department.
The county will pay the remaining $10,000 of the loan in January.[[In-content Ad]]
Jefferson Township trustee Jerry Monroe approached the commissioners to ask if the Jay County Highway Department could run its brush ax down the access roadway to the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery off of county road 575 South, which is owned by the Jay County Cemetery Commission.
"The drive is kind of growing in," Monroe said. "It's a real hindrance to get in there ..."
Highway superintendent Ken Wellman said he thinks the county has helped with such maintenance in the past, but wanted to check with the commissioners.
The commissioners didn't object as long as Monroe checked with the adjacent property owners, since the brush ax will hack through the trees and greenery and could throw debris onto their property.
"I don't have a problem with running the brush ax back there," said commissioner Milo Miller Jr.
Monroe also mentioned that the driveway is severely rutted and asked if the county would be able to grade and lay stone.
The commissioners hesitated on that one, however.
"Technically you can't do it," said attorney Lon Racster, since the driveway is not a county owned road. "Legally you can't do it."
The commissioners suggested that Monroe contact a private contractor for that work.
"We shouldn't even be running the brush ax down there," acknowledged Miller.
The commissioners, however, are expecting townships governments to be eliminated in the near future, a move that has been discussed in the state legislature in recent years. If - although more likely when - townships governments are eliminated, cemetery maintenance will become a responsibility of the county.
On that reasoning, told Wellman to clear the brush on the drive if the adjacent property owners give permission.
In other business this morning, the commissioners:
•Signed an emergency claim for $10,000 to First Merchants Bank. The bank is providing a $20,000 loan to the county to purchase a used tractor for the highway department.
The county will pay the remaining $10,000 of the loan in January.[[In-content Ad]]
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