County reports given (01/09/06)

Jay County Commissioners were busy this morning, hearing reports from several departments concerning 2006 activities.

Commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Gary Theurer, and Faron Parr approved Jay County Treasurer Fran Milthaler’s investment management policy for the coming year.

“The investment policy remains the same year after year,” Milthaler said.

She presented commissioners with a detailed report of interest the county received from the county’s two main banks for investments, First National Bank and MainSource Bank.

Her final figures for 2005 show the county collected $331,124.99 in interest.

As of Dec. 31, the county had a total of $11,236,403.09 in investments, checking and cash on hand, the figures show.

“I’m continuing to invest a little more aggressively,” Milthaler.

Meeting with Milthaler as the county board of finance, commissioners elected Theurer as president of the board and Milthaler as treasurer.

This is the eighth year Theurer has served as president of the board of finance.

Additionally, commissioners appointed Jay County Surveyor Brad Daniels as purchasing agent for a new pickup truck for surveyor’s department.

Daniels submitted quotes from Fuqua of Dunkirk for $22,000 for a Dodge truck; $20,134 from Kunkle Chevrolet, Olds and Cadillac in Portland for a Chevrolet truck; and $18,629.80 from Moser Motors in Berne for a Ford truck.

Commissioner instructed Daniels to accept the Moser quote.

In another financial matter, commissioners appointed Jay County Recorder Betty St. Myers as purchasing agent for a new computer server for her office.

St. Myers said the new equipment would be used to backup the main server.

“It hasn’t been working right since 1999,” she said.

Cost of the new server from Manatron is $12,886, which St. Myers said is available in her department’s budget.

Also today, commissioners reminded all surveyors who expect to do work in Jay County to first contact the Jay County Surveyor’s office or the Jay County Highway Department before digging in or along any of the county’s roads.

Miller expressed concern that some Jay County roads have been dug and repairs have not been satisfactory.

“They (surveyors) make enough money, they can fix the road,” said commissioners’ attorney, Brad Burkett.

The discussion came after some work in Jackson Township created holes in the roadway that were not property fixed and could cause damage to a vehicle.

In other business today, Mike LeMaster, director of the Jay County Community Corrections program, told commissioners that as of July 1 his department will no longer be handling persons charged with misdemeanor acts.

A State Department of Correction grant of approximately $110,000 is the major source of the department’s funding.

“It’s their money and they dictate what to do with their money,” LeMaster told commissioners about the change.

He said about 70 percent of cases handled through his department are felony arrests, so the change will not affect the workload nor the budget.

“We currently have nine (felony cases). Thirteen is our maximum,” he said.

Additionally, Jim Allbaugh, of LifeStream Services, updated commissioners on plans for the coming year, and noted that Madison County has now become a part of The New InterUrban program.

Through InterUrban, LifeStream provides transportation services to residents in Delaware, Randolph, Jay, Blackford, Grant and now, Madison counties.

Allbaugh also updated commissioners on the 211 information hotline.

He said it is hoped the service can be ready to go by July.

“It provides answers from human services to ‘I’m getting ready to kill myself’ and how we can prevent that from happening,” Allbaugh said, “It’s a pretty important thing for this community.”

He explained that Ralph Frazee, local emergency management director, as well as emergency directors in all other counties, have been working with LifeStream to put the system in place.

“We’re not seeking any funds from commissioners,” he said, “Our money will come from united ways and local social service organizations.”

Also, meeting early in the session for the first time this year as the Jay County Drainage Board, Parr was elected to serve as president of that board, and Theurer was elected vice-president.[[In-content Ad]]