County to review highway bids (12/06/05)

Jay County Commissioners opened annual bids Monday afternoon for the Jay County Highway Department.

Bidding on crushed stone were IMI, Montpelier; Meshberger Bros., Portland; and Stoneco, Bryant. Bidding on concrete bridge materials were Baker and Shultz, Decatur, and Primco; and equipment rental bids were received from LPI Paving & Excavating, Portland; TJ’s Concrete, Portland; Baker and Shultz; and Primco.

The bids will be reviewed by commissioners’ attorney Brad Burkett and county engineer Dan Watson before awarding the contracts.

In other business Monday afternoon, commissioners Milo Miller Jr. and Gary Theurer heard Valerie Cook, vice-president of operations for LifeStream Services Inc., explain how an effort is underway to bring the IN211 information program to Jay County.

Residents would be able to dial 211 to receive information on any of LifeStream’s programs, she explained.

The program will provide 24-hour access to a database of human service resources offered by other agencies, as well, and trained telephone counselors assist with linkage to resources dealing with crisis and other services.

Commissioners also heard educators from the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service in Jay County give an update on new programs as well as programs already in place.

Janet Bost was introduced to commissioners as the new Family Nutrition Program assistant, a position she assumed about two months ago.

She is available to speak to organizations about the program, and to offer assistance about nutritional foods.

“I’ve been doing a lot of marketing of this program,” she told commissioners. “There’s a lot of things people don’t know about food and food safety.”

The program is aimed at those with limited resources, Bost explained, and it is offered at no charge.

“It’s a very important program,” Jay County Extension Agent, John Knipp, explained. “It will be good if we can get people to take part in it.”

Beth Leonhard, extension educator for 4-H youth development, updated commissioners on the 4-H program, saying there are 729 local youth enrolled in the program’s 19 clubs.

She said she is currently working on implementing an animal tracking program in an effort to inhibit the spread of disease.

The program would provide information on the history of the animals.

“It just takes time to get it going,” she said.

Knipp reminded residents that the extension service is a source of much information residents can access.

“We also try to be a source of information to help people get started in new business,” he said.

In other business Monday commissioners appointed Ken Wellman, superintendent of the highway department, as purchasing agent for a new pickup truck.

The 2006 Silverado will be purchased from Ken Kunkle Chevrolet Olds Cadillac in Portland at a cost of $21,973, and a snow plow package will be purchased, at a cost not to exceed $4,500.

The purchases are budgeted items, Wellman explained.

Commissioners also approved changing wording in the county’s personnel policy manual. The changes address tardiness and absenteeism.

Additionally, commissioners approved changing the policy to raise the per diem for food expenses to $20 from $15 per day, and increase mileage pay for county employees to the state rate of 41 cents per mile from the current 28 cents.

Before approving the mileage increase Theurer said, “That’s quite a raise for the people from the first of the year.”[[In-content Ad]]