Council moves ahead on jail bonding (06/12/08)

Jay County Council moved one step closer Wednesday to beginning a jail expansion project.

The council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution finding need for a lease - a lease that would allow the county to exceed the tax levy in order to fund the estimated $10 million project.

The county only needed 50 signatures on a petition to support this motion, but collected 70 to get things rolling. The resolution is the first step in a procedure that should land the jail project on the November ballot for a vote by the public.

"I have no idea how it will go," said council member Marilyn Coleman. The county is advancing plans for the project despite having little idea of how the public will respond at the polls in November.

The next step for the jail project will fall to the Jay County Commissioners, who will be rounding up 100 more signatures of property owners or voters and will host a public hearing July 1 on the topic. Commissioner Milo Miller Jr. said Sheriff Ray Newton will help collect the signatures that will request a referendum as part of the Nov. 4 general election.

The council also decided to back the intention of the commissioners to fund part of the construction on the Dunkirk combined fire and ambulance base.

Community developer Ami Huffman asked the county for $60,000 to pay for costs after construction bids came in above the $500,000 granted previously by the state for the project.

"Both of those buildings are in really bad disrepair," Huffman said, justifying the need for the new station and explaining that for $60,000 the county wouldn't come close to renovating its current facilities.

"It's, my God, it is just wretched," said council member Gerald Kirby of the current stations. "It's not the way we should be treating county employees."

"Common sense says bite the bullet, do it right," he added.

Limberlost Construction Inc. will be handling the construction in Dunkirk. The project is forecasted for completion 210 days after crews start work.

Dunkirk's volunteer firemen, who raise money through a bingo game in Portland, are also contributing $60,000 towards the project.

In other business Wednesday, council members:

•Approved an additional $25,000 for the sheriff's department to help with rising medical costs. The council also approved $2,958.85 for medical care, including prescriptions, for inmates.

•Approved an $8,350 appropriation for the Jay County Superior Court, for what Kirby believed to be translation and transcription services.

•Approved $12,450 for Jay County Community Corrections to fund a new secretary position. The council also approved a $5,000 transfer from funds for a corrections grant director to pay for the new secretary position.

•Heard a request from Jay/Portland Building and Planning administrator Bill Milligan, to create a new job description and increase pay for a current clerical employee. The council told Milligan they could not act on his request until the new position was reviewed by the county's contract advisor on personnel matters.

•Approved the hire of a new field supervisor for Community Corrections at an increased salary of $27,340.

•Approved a request from county assessor Terry LeMaster to increase salary for his first deputy, former county auditor Freda Corwin. "She's absolutely qualified," Kirby said.

LeMaster also told council members he will need additional staff in the future and will return when he needs approval for additional funding.[[In-content Ad]]