July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

Developer funds OKd (7/15/04)

Council approves renewal of community developer position

By By Mike [email protected]

An innovative program that generated plenty of discussion and controversy when approved four years ago has won over some of its biggest skeptics.

And members of the Jay County Council wasted little time in approving funding for another year for a Jay County community developer.

That position, which has been filled by Wayne Bailey since August of 2000, has gained widespread support — especially from the county’s outlying communities, which have been the recipients of several large grants because of Bailey’s work.

After hearing supporting statements from community leaders from around the county, the council voted to approve a 1.5 percent increase in funding for 2005 ($79,800).

Councilman Gerald Kirby, who voted to approve the position despite serious reservations back in 2000, said Wednesday he was wrong to doubt the concept.

“It’s time to publicly flog myself ... I’ll happily report it has worked. And it has worked well,” Kirby said.

“We couldn’t have done without (Bailey),” Salamonia Town Board member Gloria Pfeifer told members of the council. “Without him, we couldn’t dream.”

The concept of a community developer was first born as a proposed countywide chamber of commerce in the county’s strategic development plan in 1998. The county chamber concept met opposition, and evolved into the community developer.

Although Bailey has served other functions, his main task is now serving as a grant writer.

In the last three-plus years, projects assisted by Bailey have been awarded more than $1.3 million in grant funds — including $490,000 for the West Jay Community Center expansion and grants of more than $100,000 for two fire trucks in Pennville and one in Salamonia.

Other major grants awarded through Bailey’s work include a utility relocation grant in Redkey ($124,000) and revolving loan fund grants for Portland ($99,000) and Redkey ($50,000).

Bailey thanked members of the coun-

cil and community leaders for their support on Wednesday.

“The word I like to use for what I do is partnership,” Bailey said. “It’s a lucky guy who can get up chomping at the bit ready to go to work.”

Among those speaking in support of Bailey on Wednesday were Jay County Development Corporation president and WJCC board president Chuck Huffman; Ray Scott, Lee Bone and Don Stafford of Pennville; JCDC charter member Barbara Street; and Faron Parr, owner of an industry in the Bryant Industrial Park.

Stafford, a Jay County High School graduate who has moved back to the county after living away for several years, said the quality of life issues that Bailey has worked on — such as the new Pennville fire trucks and community center in Dunkirk — are vital to attracting young people to Jay County.

“The quality of life draws these kids back,” said Stafford, who is the assistant chief for the Pennville Fire Department.

Also Wednesday, members of the council adopted a resolution agreeing to ask Jay County Commissioners to serve as the applicant for a planning grant for renovation of the future home of John Jay Center for Learning.

The city of Portland had agreed to serve as the applicant for the Indiana Department of Commerce $53,000 planning grant, but Bailey said Wednesday that state officials have asked the county to fill that role.

Bailey plans to take the request to the commissioners on Monday. Portland has agreed to pay the $5,300 (10 percent) matching share of the planning grant.

JJCL officials have an anonymous $1 million donation on hand to help fund the renovation efforts.

Bailey said that notification on the planning grant should be given sometime in August.

In other business Wednesday, council members:

•Adopted a salary ordinance amendment for the position of victim’s advocate. The position, which is under the control of the prosecutor’s office, will be funded by a grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. The annual salary will be $22,000.

The previous county victim’s advocate was employed by A Better Way of Muncie and worked in Jay County three days a week.

Jay County prosecutor Brad Burkett said Wednesday that the new advocate will work full-time, five days a week.

•OK’d adding additional money into line items in several county funds. Additional money was approved for: Health fund (rehabilitation services), $3,000; Health maintenance fund (DARE program), $3,500; Operation Pullover grant fund (sheriff’s department overtime), $2,068.91; and Race and Gender Fairness grant (court translation services), $1,500.

Jay County health officer Dr. Steve Myron said Wednesday that the rehabilitation services funds will pay for additional flu vaccines at $8.50 per dose. The health maintenance money, which is proceeds from the national tobacco settlement, will be used to take the DARE anti-drug program run by the Portland Police Department into the middle schools. The program currently serves only the elementary level.[[In-content Ad]]
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