Grant for Salamonie possible

Blackford County has thrown its hat into the process to attempt to secure a grant that would fund testing on the Salamonie River.
Bettie Jacobs, Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District educator, met Monday with Blackford County Commissioners about seeking a Section 319 grant from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
Jacobs said Blackford County has agreed to join Jay County in the effort.
The 319 grant would allow both counties to perform two to three years of testing on the river to identify and try to solve sources of pollution.
A report released in April from a river study performed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and IDEM noted several areas within Jay County that tested above recommended levels for a variety of pollutants, including E. coli.
Jacobs estimated the grant request would be about $125,000, with 40 percent of that total having to be matched by the counties in either monetary funding or “in-kind” contributions such as volunteer work.
Jacobs said she will see that the application process continues to move along.
Jay County Community developer Ami Huffman will work on the grant with aid from Portland resident Connie Ronald, who will provide advice and technical information needed in the process.
In other business Monday, the commissioners:
•Were informed by Jay County Sheriff Ray Newton that he found a replacement car for a department cruiser that was totaled in a flash flood.
The car will be purchased from American Chevrolet in Michigan at a cost of $22,976.
The county received $16,215 in insurance money for the totaled vehicle. The remaining $6,761 will be paid out of Local Option Income Tax public safety funds, pending Jay County Council approval.
•Heard a funding request from members of Arts Place, who asked that the commissioners restore 2012 funding to $12,500 to support the Arts in the Parks program. Due to budget restrictions this year, support for Arts in the Parks was cut to $10,000 after being at the $12,500 in 2010.
•Signed an Emergency Management Performance Grant presented by Jay County Emergency Management Agency director Ralph Frazee, which will provide reimbursement to the county for EMA salaries.
•Signed a utility easement for Frontier Communications at county roads 600 West and 700 South to install about a half mile of buried cable.[[In-content Ad]]