Grant to partially fund EMA office (04/03/06)

Jay County Commissioners learned today that an Emergency Management Planning Grant has been awarded to the county’s emergency management director, Ralph Frazee, that will pay half his salary, as well as that of his assistant, Andrea Castillo.

Frazee told commissioners the grant will pay $12,422.14 of his $24,844.87 salary, and $9,410.04 of Castillo’s $18,820.07 earnings per year.

This is the first time the department has been awarded such a grant, auditor Freda Corwin said.

In other money matters today, commissioners agreed to forward a request for $16,000 in funding from the Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition to the Jay County Council.

The money is available through collections made by offenders through the court system to the Jay County Clerk’s office.

Requests were made from the Portland Police Department ($4,500), Jay County Sheriff’s Department ($3,000), Youth Service Bureau for (treatment, $4,000, and prevention and education, $3,307.97) and Pregnancy Care Center (prevention/education, $1,192.03).

Commissioners also signed a letter of support for the Bryant Fire Department to apply for grant money for new equipment, including a generator, exhaust system for the fire department building, and a cascade system used for breathing assistance in the event of a fire.

Additionally today, commissioners heard president Milo Miller Jr. say that his son, Chris Miller, would not be doing the roof repairs on the building the county owns on East Main and Ship streets.

“After all the scuttlebutt I’ve heard, I’m washing my hands of it,” Miller said.

Last week, Commissioners Gary Theurer, Faron Parr and Miller had agreed to let Chris Miller do the work, which is expected to cost less than $2,000, Milo Miller said.

“I don’t see a problem with it,” commissioners’ attorney Brad Burkett added about the previous decision, “if it’s less than $25,000, you don’t have to quote it.”

Commissioners agreed to find someone else to do the work.

“The problem is trying to find someone to take the time to do it and do it right, rather than trying to rip you off,” Miller said.

Commissioners also learned today that a $25,000 bid they placed on a building on West Walnut Street, had been accepted by the financial firm that owns the property across from the courthouse.

The building will be razed and additional courthouse parking created on the lot.

Commissioners had placed a $35,000 bid on the site in July 2005, but the bid was rejected by the seller.

After being condemned by county officials, the building has been vacant for a few years after officials from a financial services company took possession.[[In-content Ad]]