County to buy building (01/28/2009)

The county now just needs to cut a check to become the owner of its third annex building.

The Jay County Council adopted a resolution in a special meeting Tuesday night authorizing the purchase of its third annex, the former First National Bank building, 126 N. Meridian St., Portland. The council authorized use of up to $150,000 to purchase and make repairs to the building.

The building, owned by MainSource Bank after a foreclosure, is being sold for $130,000.

Following the meeting, council members took a tour of the two-story building, which boasts an open, windowed foyer area facing Meridian and several finished offices.

"It's a pretty nice building," said commissioner Milo Miller Jr.

"That's a good find, Milo," said council president Gerald Kirby as they surveyed the annex.

"This will be really nice," said council member Marilyn Coleman as she poked her head in and out of the large carpeted offices on the second floor.

The annex will become the new home for the Purdue Cooperative Extension Office, which will move out of the Arch Street annex, allowing the Jay County Health Department to occupy that entire building. At this point, leftover space in the Meridian annex will likely be used for storage.

The county also acquired the former Maitlen Motors building on West Main Street, but it is to be razed to make room for an expansion of the Jay County Jail.

In other business Tuesday night, the council:

•Signed an interlocal agreement with the City of Dunkirk for shared use of the new fire and EMS station. The commissioners had signed the agreement on Monday. The document will be presented to the Dunkirk City Council at its next meeting for final approval.[[In-content Ad]]