July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Drain fees increased (01/12/2009)
Jay County Commissioners
By By STEVE GARBACZ-
The Jay County Drainage boards approved this morning increases in drainage assessments for seven watersheds, with protests coming in only one of those areas.
Three landowners from Madison Township came to protest the raise to the Upper Salamonia watershed. Jay County Surveyor Brad Daniels recommended the fee increase from $1 per acre and $12.50 per plot to $2/$20.
"Don't raise it," said Glen Miller, who also protested last time the commissioners raised rates in June.
The watershed is $11,949 in debt, which means no work can be done until the fund is replenished. Daniels said he already had work orders queued up for the region.
"We've got to take care of the county," said commissioner Milo Miller Jr. "We can't do any more work in the area."
Although maintenance is done in some watersheds running in the red, guidelines call for work to halt when the debt exceeds five years of assessment collections.
Milo Miller and commissioner Jim Zimmerman quietly discussed their options, including raising the acreage by 25 cents.
"There's no sense in just going a quarter," Zimmerman said.
"We have a lot more people concerned than just the three," Milo Miller said, meaning that the other residents in the area had not protested the raise.
The commissioners, despite the protest, approved an increase to $1.50/$20 for the watershed.
"The longer you wait the more it costs," Zimmerman said. "It's got to get out of the red before they do any more work."
"I know the economic time isn't good ... but you can't do work if it's in the red," Milo Miller agreed. "It's not like we keep gouging you. It's not like we're bleeding you."
The commissioners also raised assessments for six other watersheds including: Bailey-Zimmerman ($16,000 debt) from $1/$12.50 to $1.50/$20; Cartwright ($5,199 debt) from $1.24/$12.50 to $2/20; Glen Miller ($17,202 debt) from $1.25/$6.25 to $2/$20; Jenkins ($4,363 debt) from $1.24/$9.36 to $2/$20; Ross and Days ($46,248 debt) from $1/$12.50 to $1.50/$20; and Wood ($676.75 debt) from $1.24/$12.50 to $2/$20.
Commissioner Faron Parr was absent from the meeting after slipping on ice Sunday and breaking his leg above the ankle. Parr will be undergoing surgery this afternoon at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, but said he expects to attend, on crutches, next week's meeting.
In other business this morning, the commissioners:
•Approved combining two parcels to reduce drainage assessments for Paul and Virginia Osterholt, 251 N. Eastern Ave., St. Henry, Ohio. The properties are located on county road 400 South just west of 300 East.
•Signed an emergency claim for $12,915 for a loan payment on an excavator, which is due Jan. 15.
•Gave permission to Daniels to put out bid specifications for a new vehicle, an "inexpensive four-wheel-drive" truck for the surveyor's office.
•Signed two emergency claims for $23,861.75 and $19,973.60 to pay for new vehicles for the Jay County Sheriff Department.[[In-content Ad]]
Three landowners from Madison Township came to protest the raise to the Upper Salamonia watershed. Jay County Surveyor Brad Daniels recommended the fee increase from $1 per acre and $12.50 per plot to $2/$20.
"Don't raise it," said Glen Miller, who also protested last time the commissioners raised rates in June.
The watershed is $11,949 in debt, which means no work can be done until the fund is replenished. Daniels said he already had work orders queued up for the region.
"We've got to take care of the county," said commissioner Milo Miller Jr. "We can't do any more work in the area."
Although maintenance is done in some watersheds running in the red, guidelines call for work to halt when the debt exceeds five years of assessment collections.
Milo Miller and commissioner Jim Zimmerman quietly discussed their options, including raising the acreage by 25 cents.
"There's no sense in just going a quarter," Zimmerman said.
"We have a lot more people concerned than just the three," Milo Miller said, meaning that the other residents in the area had not protested the raise.
The commissioners, despite the protest, approved an increase to $1.50/$20 for the watershed.
"The longer you wait the more it costs," Zimmerman said. "It's got to get out of the red before they do any more work."
"I know the economic time isn't good ... but you can't do work if it's in the red," Milo Miller agreed. "It's not like we keep gouging you. It's not like we're bleeding you."
The commissioners also raised assessments for six other watersheds including: Bailey-Zimmerman ($16,000 debt) from $1/$12.50 to $1.50/$20; Cartwright ($5,199 debt) from $1.24/$12.50 to $2/20; Glen Miller ($17,202 debt) from $1.25/$6.25 to $2/$20; Jenkins ($4,363 debt) from $1.24/$9.36 to $2/$20; Ross and Days ($46,248 debt) from $1/$12.50 to $1.50/$20; and Wood ($676.75 debt) from $1.24/$12.50 to $2/$20.
Commissioner Faron Parr was absent from the meeting after slipping on ice Sunday and breaking his leg above the ankle. Parr will be undergoing surgery this afternoon at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, but said he expects to attend, on crutches, next week's meeting.
In other business this morning, the commissioners:
•Approved combining two parcels to reduce drainage assessments for Paul and Virginia Osterholt, 251 N. Eastern Ave., St. Henry, Ohio. The properties are located on county road 400 South just west of 300 East.
•Signed an emergency claim for $12,915 for a loan payment on an excavator, which is due Jan. 15.
•Gave permission to Daniels to put out bid specifications for a new vehicle, an "inexpensive four-wheel-drive" truck for the surveyor's office.
•Signed two emergency claims for $23,861.75 and $19,973.60 to pay for new vehicles for the Jay County Sheriff Department.[[In-content Ad]]
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