County's ordinances codified (03/22/04)

Jay County’s ordinances are going to be codified for the first time in 20 years.

Jay County Commissioners this morning unanimously approved spending up to $7,950 to pull together the ordinances and assure they are in compliance with prevailing law. Since the last time such a project was taken on — in 1984 — the county has approved 137 additional ordinances.

American Legal Publishing Corp., Cincinnati, will provide the county with 25 copies of the codified ordinances. The company has done similar work for Portland, Dunkirk, Winchester and Berne.

Commissioners also were unanimous in authorizing Judge Brian Hutchison to move forward with replacing the recording system in the Jay Circuit Courtroom.

Hutchison said it will cost an estimated $14,900 — plus the cost of two computers — to replace the recording systems in both the circuit and superior courts. While the superior court system is in better shape than circuit court’s, Hutchison was hopeful of getting the cost down by including both courtrooms.

Funds for the digital recording systems, which will record courtroom proceedings on a computer hard drive with the ability to burn CD Roms, will come from probation user fees rather than tax dollars.

“I’m hesitant to take it from probation user fees,” Hutchison said, but that’s what other nearby counties have been doing. “Apparently this is a justifiable use for it.”

Continued concerns about courthouse security again were raised this morning.

Commissioner Milo Miller Jr. said there is a possibility that two former police officers in the community corrections office — Mike LeMaster and Robert Moore — could be deputized to have law enforcement powers within the courthouse.

One problem, however, is what impact that might have on job descriptions and pay levels. “If it’s going to snowball into full-time deputy pay, then forget it,” said Miller.

Another factor is that while LeMaster and Moore are both veterans of the Portland Police Department, their successors might not have law enforcement experience.

Commissioners and their attorney, Brad Burkett, continued to express dissatisfaction with current procedures of the Jay County Sheriff’s Department in response to “panic button” calls from the courthouse.

“You don’t call the people in danger (on the phone) to see if they’re in danger,” said Burkett. “That’s my problem with the procedure.”

Commissioners also learned today that the Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition recommended distribution of about $13,000 in court fees to a variety of law enforcement, educational and drug treatment programs locally.

Acting as the county drainage board, commissioners directed Jay County surveyor Brad Daniels to look at a pipe beneath road 650 North near county road 100 West to see if it could be lowered to improve the fall for water in the Loblolly Watershed.

The board also heard a request from the Jay County Beagle Club, which owns property at 200 West and 600 South, to have ditch assessments waived. The request was denied. “If we do that for you guys, we’re going to open up a can of worms,” said Commissioner Gary Theurer.

“We just can’t help you,” said Miller.[[In-content Ad]]