Changes to jail exterior approved

The Jay County Jail expansion will likely not match the historic feel of Portland's historic downtown, but should maintain the look of the existing jail.

The Jay County Commissioners reviewed a new conceptual drawing of the jail's Main Street-facing side Monday after commissioner Milo Miller Jr. expressed his displeasure with the building's look in previous weeks, stating the jail looked like a box.

The jail plans originally called for a false wall on the Main Street side that would be about the same height and have similar features to the adjacent property, which contains the Greazy Pickle. But at nearly $130,000, that façade was cut to save money after bids for the project came in high.

Jeff Badders and Dave Sholl of SchenkelShultz presented the commissioners with a new conceptual, which would feature some masonry work on the Main Street wall at a cost of about $20,000.

"It's really just taking what's along the side and bring it around the front," Sholl said, noting recessed false windows and the darker band around the building.

"I don't see the detraction to this compared to the $100,000," said commissioners Jim Zimmerman, who in previous weeks spoke against spending large amounts on aesthetics.

"You made a big improvement with this," Miller said. "I can be happy with this."

"I don't want to spend excess money on it," said commissioner Faron Parr, "but it'll look nice for the next 50 years."

Although the jail is within the boundaries of the Portland Historic Preservation Commission, committee members have said they will not enforce the historic guidelines on the building. The commissioners, however, have worked with the commission anyway to try to come to a mutual satisfaction.

Badders and Sholl also noted that once the project is underway, if there appears to be some immediate savings, the historic façade could be completed at a later date. Badder said there would be about a six-month window once construction starts that the commissioners could change their minds if they choose.

In other business Monday, the commissioners:

•Made Sheriff Ray Newton purchasing agent to buy a new radio, $2,256.34 and a radar gun, $1,360.

•Made Gary Gibson purchasing agent to buy a new defibrillator for the health office from bio-terrorism funds at a cost of $1,495.

•Made county auditor Nancy Culy purchasing agent to buy an upgraded server for the county's financial system at a cost of $6,000.

•Spoke with Tim Lacy of Manatron Inc. about E-Gov service, which would make tax data available online and allow property owners to pay taxes via the Internet.[[In-content Ad]]