County to purchase 911 grant

The Jay County Commissioners signed a contract to purchase four new 911 units for the Jay County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Ray Newton presented the commissioners with the contract to purchase the four units at a cost of $86,685.84.
The Jay County Building Corporation, which oversees the jail expansion’s finances, will purchase one of the four stations and half of the overall cost will be reimbursed by a state grant.
The Jay County Council gave Newton approval to purchase the units at its meeting Wednesday.
Newton also updated the commissioners on progress on the jail expansion.
Newton said the new corrections officers who were hired to staff the jail will begin training Monday.
The contractors are installing kitchen equipment this week and Newton said he hopes the new kitchen will be up and running and in use by mid-August.
The sheriff also said he is eyeing around Aug. 30 to hold open houses for public officials and the general public to view the completed expansion if everything remains on schedule.
In other business Monday, the commissioners:
•Gave approval to community developer Ami Huffman to utilize one of the county’s two grant slots to apply for Office of Community and Rural Affairs funding for an expansion at Jay/Randolph Developmental Services.
The expansion would add room to the group’s workshop area, which is too small to handle the number of clients as well as wheelchairs and other equipment.[[In-content Ad]]