Hanni building negotiations begin (12/1/03)

With money no longer the central issue, negotiations for the purchase of property next to the Jay County Jail have begun.

Jay County Commissioners, who have said they want to purchase a building and lot just north of the jail as insurance should an expansion project become necessary, talked this morning with one of the building’s owners about possible terms of an agreement that would keep the building occupied.

Jeff Sprunger, who owns and operates Hanni Plumbing, Heating and Cooling at the 215 W. Main St. location, heard the commissioners propose setting up a purchase contract that would subtract an amount to be negotiated from the purchase price for a lease payment. The agreement would be for a set term.

That arrangement would allow Hanni to lease the 4,500-square foot rear portion of the building without the commissioners inviting bids for lessees or charging the average local lease price of approximately $3 per square foot annually (or about $1,125 per month).

Sprunger owns a lot just to the west of the jail on the northwest corner of Ship and Water streets, and has previously said he is considering constructing a new location for his business there.

“It would be at least a year before we would have that up,” Sprunger said this morning.

Commissioners’ president Milo Miller emphasized this morning that any jail project won’t move quickly.

“Unless we get a judge’s mandate, we’re not going to do anything” in terms of jail expansion, Miller said.

Also participating in the discussion were Commissioners Mike Leonhard and Gary Theurer, along with commissioners’ attorney Brad Burkett.

Sprunger was asked by the commissioners to propose a monthly amount he would be comfortable with deducting from the purchase price. He is expected to return for further discussions on Monday, Dec. 8.

Also this morning, the commissioners announced the resignation of Tami Mann, director of the Jay County Emergency Management Agency.

Mann’s resignation, which takes effect Dec. 8, was dated Nov. 21 and was mailed to Miller’s residence. He received it on Monday, Nov. 24.

The commissioners are accepting applications/résumés through this Friday for the position, which is a 12 on the county’s pay grade system. The minimum pay for the 35-hour per week position is $22,900 for 2004.[[In-content Ad]]