July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Courthouse security reviewed (12/7/04)
Commissioners hesitant to make changes
Security at the Jay County Courthouse, an issue that was discussed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, could be thrust upon Jay County Commissioners in the coming year.
Commissioners’ president Milo Miller Jr. said Monday that some in state government are applying pressure for courthouses across Indiana to become more secure.
Miller said the issue was discussed last week at a statewide commissioners conference attended by himself, Commissioner Gary Theurer and Faron Parr, who will take office as Commissioner of the North District on Jan. 1.
State officials say there will be a push to provide one metal detector to each county. Counties could then close all but one entrance to the public to provide a more secure environment.
But Miller, Theurer and Commissioner Mike Leonhard expressed reservations about asking the public to use only the south entrance to the courthouse, which is the only handicapped accessible entrance.
The commissioners also said that a security guard would have to be hired to staff the metal detector — a cost that would be paid by the county.
No action was taken Monday by the commissioners on the issue of courthouse security.
Most types of weapons are not permitted in the courthouse by an order from Jay Superior Court Judge Joel Roberts and Jay Circuit Court Judge Brian Hutchison.
Also Monday afternoon, bids for two police cars and supplies for the county highway department were opened — but not acted on — by the commissioners.
Five different bids for two patrol vehicles for the Jay County Sheriff’s Department and a host of bids for stone, equipment rental and bridge materials were reviewed.
The commissioners tabled action on the bids, turning them over to Jay County Sheriff Todd Penrod and Ken Wellman, superintendent of the Jay County Highway Department, respectively.
The bids for the patrol vehicles were from Les Wenning Ford, Fort Recovery; Fincannon Ford Lincoln Mercury, Hartford City; Moser Motor Sales, Berne; Ken Kunkle Chevrolet Cadillac, Portland; and Bloomington Ford, Bloomington.
Les Wenning, Fincannon and Moser Motor Sales submitted bids on 2005 Ford Crown Victoria rear-wheel drive cars, while Kunkle submitted a bid on a Chevrolet Impala front-wheel drive car.
Bloomington Ford, which is a dealer through the state bid program, submitted bids for both the Crown Victoria and Impala models.
The five bids ranged between $36,018.50 and $37,368.66, including trade-in of 1995 and 2001 Chevrolet vehicles.
Penrod said the department is currently using both the Chevrolet and Ford police packages, and has had good luck with the reliability of both.
Sheriff’s Deputy Greg Franks told the commissioners he would prefer to continue driving a Chevrolet patrol vehicle.
Bids for a variety of stone products for the highway department were submitted by Meshberger Bros. Stone Co., Shelly Materials (Stoneco) and Irving Materials Inc.
Bids for rental of equipment were submitted by LPI Paving and Excavating, LeMaster Enterprises and TJ Concrete, all of Portland, along with Baker & Schultz of Decatur.
Concrete bridge materials bids were turned in by Baker & Schultz and Primco Inc.
The practice of the county on annual bids for the materials has been to accept all bids and purchase the supplies as needed from the most convenient vendor.
Also Monday, the commissioners gave permission for Wellman to purchase a new V-plow for a truck purchased recently. The truck will be delivered in February.
Wellman said the cost for the plow will be about $6,300. The total cost to put a new dump/plow truck on the road is almost $95,000, Wellman said.
In other business Monday, the commissioners:
•Discussed asking an official from Plexis Group, a software/computer consultant firm, to inspect courthouse computers for evidence the computers are being used for non-work purposes.
Miller said the issue of private use of work computers also was discussed at the conference.
“When they’re doing that kind of (personal stuff), they could be doing what they’re supposed to do,” Miller said.
•Deferred making appointments of department heads until next week.
•Appointed a new broker to provide AFLAC supplemental insurance. The new broker will be Josh Jones of Associated Payroll Plus, Muncie.
•Heard Leonhard report the proposed rent for relocation of the Jay/Portland Building and Planning Department to a building on South Meridian Street would be about $440 per month.
The building and planning department is currently located in the courthouse with no rent paid by either party in the joint city-county venture.
Leonhard is a member of a joint board governing the department. That board voted last week to allow the department to move into a building at 118 S. Meridian St. along with the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce, Jay County Visitor & Tourism Bureau, Jay County Development Corporation and Jay County Community Development.[[In-content Ad]]
Commissioners’ president Milo Miller Jr. said Monday that some in state government are applying pressure for courthouses across Indiana to become more secure.
Miller said the issue was discussed last week at a statewide commissioners conference attended by himself, Commissioner Gary Theurer and Faron Parr, who will take office as Commissioner of the North District on Jan. 1.
State officials say there will be a push to provide one metal detector to each county. Counties could then close all but one entrance to the public to provide a more secure environment.
But Miller, Theurer and Commissioner Mike Leonhard expressed reservations about asking the public to use only the south entrance to the courthouse, which is the only handicapped accessible entrance.
The commissioners also said that a security guard would have to be hired to staff the metal detector — a cost that would be paid by the county.
No action was taken Monday by the commissioners on the issue of courthouse security.
Most types of weapons are not permitted in the courthouse by an order from Jay Superior Court Judge Joel Roberts and Jay Circuit Court Judge Brian Hutchison.
Also Monday afternoon, bids for two police cars and supplies for the county highway department were opened — but not acted on — by the commissioners.
Five different bids for two patrol vehicles for the Jay County Sheriff’s Department and a host of bids for stone, equipment rental and bridge materials were reviewed.
The commissioners tabled action on the bids, turning them over to Jay County Sheriff Todd Penrod and Ken Wellman, superintendent of the Jay County Highway Department, respectively.
The bids for the patrol vehicles were from Les Wenning Ford, Fort Recovery; Fincannon Ford Lincoln Mercury, Hartford City; Moser Motor Sales, Berne; Ken Kunkle Chevrolet Cadillac, Portland; and Bloomington Ford, Bloomington.
Les Wenning, Fincannon and Moser Motor Sales submitted bids on 2005 Ford Crown Victoria rear-wheel drive cars, while Kunkle submitted a bid on a Chevrolet Impala front-wheel drive car.
Bloomington Ford, which is a dealer through the state bid program, submitted bids for both the Crown Victoria and Impala models.
The five bids ranged between $36,018.50 and $37,368.66, including trade-in of 1995 and 2001 Chevrolet vehicles.
Penrod said the department is currently using both the Chevrolet and Ford police packages, and has had good luck with the reliability of both.
Sheriff’s Deputy Greg Franks told the commissioners he would prefer to continue driving a Chevrolet patrol vehicle.
Bids for a variety of stone products for the highway department were submitted by Meshberger Bros. Stone Co., Shelly Materials (Stoneco) and Irving Materials Inc.
Bids for rental of equipment were submitted by LPI Paving and Excavating, LeMaster Enterprises and TJ Concrete, all of Portland, along with Baker & Schultz of Decatur.
Concrete bridge materials bids were turned in by Baker & Schultz and Primco Inc.
The practice of the county on annual bids for the materials has been to accept all bids and purchase the supplies as needed from the most convenient vendor.
Also Monday, the commissioners gave permission for Wellman to purchase a new V-plow for a truck purchased recently. The truck will be delivered in February.
Wellman said the cost for the plow will be about $6,300. The total cost to put a new dump/plow truck on the road is almost $95,000, Wellman said.
In other business Monday, the commissioners:
•Discussed asking an official from Plexis Group, a software/computer consultant firm, to inspect courthouse computers for evidence the computers are being used for non-work purposes.
Miller said the issue of private use of work computers also was discussed at the conference.
“When they’re doing that kind of (personal stuff), they could be doing what they’re supposed to do,” Miller said.
•Deferred making appointments of department heads until next week.
•Appointed a new broker to provide AFLAC supplemental insurance. The new broker will be Josh Jones of Associated Payroll Plus, Muncie.
•Heard Leonhard report the proposed rent for relocation of the Jay/Portland Building and Planning Department to a building on South Meridian Street would be about $440 per month.
The building and planning department is currently located in the courthouse with no rent paid by either party in the joint city-county venture.
Leonhard is a member of a joint board governing the department. That board voted last week to allow the department to move into a building at 118 S. Meridian St. along with the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce, Jay County Visitor & Tourism Bureau, Jay County Development Corporation and Jay County Community Development.[[In-content Ad]]
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