County to be graded on readiness

The state is preparing a review of the county's emergency preparedness and Jay County should be in position to earn favorable marks.

"They're going to come in and grade us," said Jay County Emergency Management Agency director Ralph Frazee this morning.

"I think we're as prepared as any small county in the state," said Jay County commissioners Milo Miller Jr.

Frazee agreed that the county is in good shape, but said the county might see some deductions based on "certified, trained responders."

"The state doesn't recognize our responders because they're not certified," he said, noting that many local departments only require the minimum for new people to begin serving. "A lot of the volunteers, they just require the mandatory (training)."

Frazee said a representative will be in the area to speak with him next week and will schedule a future date for the review.

Frazee also told the commissioners that team trainings are beginning in a 13-county Homeland Security Department district of which Jay County is a member. The cooperative district will allow counties to provide assistance to other member counties in case of emergency.

In other business this morning, the commissioners:

•Were informed that attorney Lon Racster will look into statutes regarding cemetery ownership. A cemetery commission member asked in September about whether the county or townships are owners of cemeteries in order to obtain a letter granting permission for contractors to go to older cemeteries which may be boxed in on private property.

•Asked Jay County Regional Sewer District president Gerald Kirby about district board member Bob Brelsford.

Brelsford was removed from his position as Portland Wastewater Treatment plant superintendent last week by Mayor Bruce Hosier. Hosier did not comment on while Brelsford was removed. Kirby said the position on the board is not tied to the superintendent position and said that, as far as he knows, Brelsford will continue to serve on the board.[[In-content Ad]]