July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Corrections discussed by county council (03/09/06)
Jay County Council
By By MARY ANN LEWIS-
The future of Jay County Community Corrections was a concern of the Jay County Council Wednesday night.
Council member Todd Wickey told members of the state’s plan to no longer assign certain cases to community corrections, as well as plans to reduce funding.
Department director Mike LeMaster told Jay County Commissioners earlier this year that the state would be taking away his office’s oversight of misdemeanor cases, thus reducing nearly half of the department’s workload.
“Before long they’re going to be handling only A, B, and C felonies,” Wickey said.
Additionally, Wickey said the state would be cutting the department’s grant funding. The local department currently receives a two-year grant of about $216,000 to provide its services as well as pay two employees.
The council discussed other ways the program could be funded locally if the state takes away all funding.
“If we fund the whole thing it will have to come from probation user’s fees,” said councilman Gerald Kirby. “I hate to see it dropped. It’s a good program.
“Judge (Joel) Roberts (Superior Court) uses that program a lot,” Wickey said. “It’s a handy tool for him to have.”
“The state wants to balance its budget and we’re going to have to pick up the slack,” Kirby said.
Also Wednesday the council approved a three-year tax abatement for a confined hog feeding operation of Eric and Tyler Pursifull in Richland Township.
The project, at 7772 South 1000 West, Redkey, is a 4,000-head finishing building at a value of $721,495. The Jay County Tax Abatement Advisory Committee had recommended granting the abatement, which will be a phasing-in of new taxes due on the buildings.
Also Wednesday, the council approved annual compliance forms for Jake Lochtefeld in Madison Township; John Fennig of Crossroads Precision Tool, also in Madison Township; and to E.M. Williams warehouse and shipping in Pike Township.
A compliance form for Minnich Poultry in Noble Township will be handled by councilman Jack Houck.
The council also passed a resolution Wednesday night setting a cost of $1 for all county produced compact discs containing information from the county’s election information database.
Kirby said Jay County Clerk Jane Ann Runyon had noted earlier that a complete paper printout of such information used “15 reams of paper and a $123 ink cartridge.”
“This makes a lot more sense,” Kirby said about the $1 CD.
Council president, Marilyn Coleman, also reminded members that review of the county’s pay plan will not be undertaken until 2007. It was thought earlier the plan would be reviewed this year, and the question was addressed when highway superintendent, Ken Wellman, sought the council’s approval to increase the starting pay for truck drivers.
“I sympathize with him,” Kirby said, “but I hate to make a precedent.[[In-content Ad]]
Council member Todd Wickey told members of the state’s plan to no longer assign certain cases to community corrections, as well as plans to reduce funding.
Department director Mike LeMaster told Jay County Commissioners earlier this year that the state would be taking away his office’s oversight of misdemeanor cases, thus reducing nearly half of the department’s workload.
“Before long they’re going to be handling only A, B, and C felonies,” Wickey said.
Additionally, Wickey said the state would be cutting the department’s grant funding. The local department currently receives a two-year grant of about $216,000 to provide its services as well as pay two employees.
The council discussed other ways the program could be funded locally if the state takes away all funding.
“If we fund the whole thing it will have to come from probation user’s fees,” said councilman Gerald Kirby. “I hate to see it dropped. It’s a good program.
“Judge (Joel) Roberts (Superior Court) uses that program a lot,” Wickey said. “It’s a handy tool for him to have.”
“The state wants to balance its budget and we’re going to have to pick up the slack,” Kirby said.
Also Wednesday the council approved a three-year tax abatement for a confined hog feeding operation of Eric and Tyler Pursifull in Richland Township.
The project, at 7772 South 1000 West, Redkey, is a 4,000-head finishing building at a value of $721,495. The Jay County Tax Abatement Advisory Committee had recommended granting the abatement, which will be a phasing-in of new taxes due on the buildings.
Also Wednesday, the council approved annual compliance forms for Jake Lochtefeld in Madison Township; John Fennig of Crossroads Precision Tool, also in Madison Township; and to E.M. Williams warehouse and shipping in Pike Township.
A compliance form for Minnich Poultry in Noble Township will be handled by councilman Jack Houck.
The council also passed a resolution Wednesday night setting a cost of $1 for all county produced compact discs containing information from the county’s election information database.
Kirby said Jay County Clerk Jane Ann Runyon had noted earlier that a complete paper printout of such information used “15 reams of paper and a $123 ink cartridge.”
“This makes a lot more sense,” Kirby said about the $1 CD.
Council president, Marilyn Coleman, also reminded members that review of the county’s pay plan will not be undertaken until 2007. It was thought earlier the plan would be reviewed this year, and the question was addressed when highway superintendent, Ken Wellman, sought the council’s approval to increase the starting pay for truck drivers.
“I sympathize with him,” Kirby said, “but I hate to make a precedent.[[In-content Ad]]
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