July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Cost of dust mat is rising (04/18/06)
Jay County Commissioners
By By MARY ANN LEWIS-
The cost for putting down an apparently successful dust control product on the county’s stone roads is going up this year and Monday afternoon Jay County Commissioners and highway superintendent, Ken Wellman, discussed ways to pay for a second year of the program.
The application was done for the first time in 2005 at no expense to county residents, but at a cost of nearly $150,000 to the county. This year’s cost to the county is expected to be about $200,000.
Prior to last year’s application of the magnesium chloride, county residents would designate, and pay for, a dust control strip in front of or near their homes.
Wellman told commissioners the cost of the magnesium chloride used in the chemical mat has increased to 73 cents per gallon, up from 61 cents per gallon in 2005. It takes 2,400 gallons of the chemical to cover one mile, Wellman explained.
The cost to put the mat down on one mile of roadway will cost $1,750 this year. The cost for the trial application in 2005 was $1,460 per mile.
Commissioners have said that residents have been pleased with the results of the application, and in some places, the chemical is still evident.
“We’ve had a positive response from the dust control,” Parr told the Jay County Council last week. “On some roads the chemical is still there.”
Wellman told commissioners the application was put on 114 miles of gravel roads last year at a cost of $148,710. This year’s cost is expected to be about $199,500, he estimated, and he said he was unsure if additional miles would be added.
“I’m not going to expand the application of dust control,” Wellman said.
“Let’s wait and see how we come out with the infrastructure fund,” Theurer advised Wellman about making a decision.
That fund provides money generated through an agreement with Waste Management which pays the county 10 percent of gross gate revenue collected on trash dumped in the Jay County Landfill. The revenue generated is approximately $400,000 annually and a portion of that money is used each year for road work in the county.
Commissioners made no decision on how to fund this year’s application.
Additionally, Wellman told commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Gary Theurer, and Faron Parr that Kinstle Sterling/Western Star, Wapakoneta, Ohio, had requested payment of a 2006 dump truck in advance of delivery, and commissioners approved an emergency claim of $65,854 for the vehicle.
Commissioners had previously approved Wellman’s request for the purchase.
Commissioners also agreed Monday afternoon to loan a rural Portland couple funds to pay for installing a septic system, ordered by Dave Houck, environmentalist/administrator for the Jay County Health Department.
Eric and Laura Wimmer, 1127 East 200 South, submitted an application asking for the county’s help with the approximately $10,000 project on a property they purchased in July 2005.
Mrs. Wimmer explained it was discovered after they purchased the property there was no septic system.
“We were not aware of it until the lid caved in and all there was was a hole,” she said. “There was no way to tell because it was all underground.”
Miller explained the loan will be paid off in semi-annual installments of about $750 each over a 10-year period at 10 per cent interest. The payments will be due when property taxes are collected in May and November and the first payment will be due in November.
“It needs to be done immediately,” Mrs. Wimmer told commissioners about hastening the project.
“If you can find a lending facility to loan you the money it would be cheaper,” Miller advised Mrs. Wimmer of the high interest charged by the county.
Corwin Trenching, Pennville, will be doing the work.
See Dust page 6
Continued from page 1
Additionally Monday afternoon, commissioners learned Ag Best of Muncie had donated a 1993 Dodge pickup truck to the county’s Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES).
Ralph Frazee, director of Jay County Emergency Management, asked commissioners to assume ownership of the vehicle so it could be covered by county insurance.
The truck will be used to transport a communications trailer, Frazee said.
Rob Smith, director of the Jay County Retirement Center, was given permission by commissioners Monday to hire part-time summer help and he was also instructed to get price quotes for replacing shingles on a grain storage building at the center on county road 200 North.
Miller also advised Smith to consider putting a metal roof on the building.[[In-content Ad]]
The application was done for the first time in 2005 at no expense to county residents, but at a cost of nearly $150,000 to the county. This year’s cost to the county is expected to be about $200,000.
Prior to last year’s application of the magnesium chloride, county residents would designate, and pay for, a dust control strip in front of or near their homes.
Wellman told commissioners the cost of the magnesium chloride used in the chemical mat has increased to 73 cents per gallon, up from 61 cents per gallon in 2005. It takes 2,400 gallons of the chemical to cover one mile, Wellman explained.
The cost to put the mat down on one mile of roadway will cost $1,750 this year. The cost for the trial application in 2005 was $1,460 per mile.
Commissioners have said that residents have been pleased with the results of the application, and in some places, the chemical is still evident.
“We’ve had a positive response from the dust control,” Parr told the Jay County Council last week. “On some roads the chemical is still there.”
Wellman told commissioners the application was put on 114 miles of gravel roads last year at a cost of $148,710. This year’s cost is expected to be about $199,500, he estimated, and he said he was unsure if additional miles would be added.
“I’m not going to expand the application of dust control,” Wellman said.
“Let’s wait and see how we come out with the infrastructure fund,” Theurer advised Wellman about making a decision.
That fund provides money generated through an agreement with Waste Management which pays the county 10 percent of gross gate revenue collected on trash dumped in the Jay County Landfill. The revenue generated is approximately $400,000 annually and a portion of that money is used each year for road work in the county.
Commissioners made no decision on how to fund this year’s application.
Additionally, Wellman told commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Gary Theurer, and Faron Parr that Kinstle Sterling/Western Star, Wapakoneta, Ohio, had requested payment of a 2006 dump truck in advance of delivery, and commissioners approved an emergency claim of $65,854 for the vehicle.
Commissioners had previously approved Wellman’s request for the purchase.
Commissioners also agreed Monday afternoon to loan a rural Portland couple funds to pay for installing a septic system, ordered by Dave Houck, environmentalist/administrator for the Jay County Health Department.
Eric and Laura Wimmer, 1127 East 200 South, submitted an application asking for the county’s help with the approximately $10,000 project on a property they purchased in July 2005.
Mrs. Wimmer explained it was discovered after they purchased the property there was no septic system.
“We were not aware of it until the lid caved in and all there was was a hole,” she said. “There was no way to tell because it was all underground.”
Miller explained the loan will be paid off in semi-annual installments of about $750 each over a 10-year period at 10 per cent interest. The payments will be due when property taxes are collected in May and November and the first payment will be due in November.
“It needs to be done immediately,” Mrs. Wimmer told commissioners about hastening the project.
“If you can find a lending facility to loan you the money it would be cheaper,” Miller advised Mrs. Wimmer of the high interest charged by the county.
Corwin Trenching, Pennville, will be doing the work.
See Dust page 6
Continued from page 1
Additionally Monday afternoon, commissioners learned Ag Best of Muncie had donated a 1993 Dodge pickup truck to the county’s Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES).
Ralph Frazee, director of Jay County Emergency Management, asked commissioners to assume ownership of the vehicle so it could be covered by county insurance.
The truck will be used to transport a communications trailer, Frazee said.
Rob Smith, director of the Jay County Retirement Center, was given permission by commissioners Monday to hire part-time summer help and he was also instructed to get price quotes for replacing shingles on a grain storage building at the center on county road 200 North.
Miller also advised Smith to consider putting a metal roof on the building.[[In-content Ad]]
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