IDEM watching county projects more closely (12/27/06)

Jay County is now being more closely watched by state environmental officials.Bettie Jacobs, educator/administrator for the Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District, told the Jay County Drainage Board today that Robert Beck, and inspector with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is making a visit to Jay County once a month.Jacobs told board members Faron Parr, Gary Theurer, and Milo Miller Jr. that Beck is inspecting all construction that falls within the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Rule 5.That regulation governs all construction that disturbs one or more acres of land."It's good for Rule 5," Jacobs said about the IDEM visit.She said that Beck has issued the most citations to builders about leaving mounds of soil uncovered for more than two weeks.A seeding process must be undertaken if the soil is left uncovered to prevent it from washing away in the event of rain, she said."And in every case where a citation has been issued, they (the landowner) have contacted IDEM and want to know what to do to bring it into compliance," she said.Jacobs said the regular visit by IDEM came after "we kept harping on them. They're having us do all this work, but no way to put teeth into it."Additionally today, the board reminded surveyors who come into the county to work, that holes dug in the county's roadways must be repaired with either concrete or with a hot mix.Miller, who said he has seen several holes in county roads, asked county surveyor, Brad Daniels, to remind out of county surveyors of the requirement as well."It's time to clamp down on surveyors who dig holes in our highways and roads," Miller said, citing one on county road 200 West near Powers.Miller said during the next few months the holes will be filling with water that will freeze and ruin pavement around them."We're gonna have to do something with those boys," Miller said about those surveyors. "They need to put in hot mix or something else."Garth "Mike" LeMaster director of the Jay County Community Corrections, who will be retiring on Dec. 31, thanked commissioners today for their support for his department since it was formed in 2001.Melissa Smith, a resident of Fountain City, has been named the new director and will be assuming those responsibilities on Jan. 1. LeMaster has informed his advisory board that he would be willing to volunteer in the office by attending additional training, receive certification in program service delivery and conduct some programs for those required to attend other training.Concerning correctional services in the county, auditor Freda Corwin said today that so far this year - not including the last quarter of the years - the county has spent $80,000 for the security detention of juveniles in the county. In 2005 the county spent $169,000 and $165,000 was appropriated for 2006.[[In-content Ad]]