Interest earnings are down

In 2009, interest made from the county general fund dropped nearly $200,000.

Acting as the Jay County Board of Finance, Jay County treasurer Robin Alberson and the Jay County Commissioners reviewed the investment management policy and the annual interest report.

"It is down," Alberson said of the interest made. "Last year it was over $300,000."

The county accrued $153,759.74 in interest on its general fund in 2009, but that total dropped severely from $343,454.67 in 2008.

The decrease can be attributed to the national recession that fully set in during 2009, in which interest rates dropped and county tax revenues were hurt by high unemployment.

"Too bad we can't get more, but that's the way it is," said commissioner Milo Miller Jr.

In other business this morning, the commissioners:

•Approved creation of a line item for equipment maintenance for the treasurer's office. Alberson said she will approach the Jay County Council to transfer money into it to maintain the copier and other items in her office.

•Approved allocating $503,659.90 raised in the Premier tax-increment financing district located southwest of Portland.

•Granted permission for workers of the Indiana Brownfield Program to perform testing and cleanup at an abandoned gas station located at 206 Main St., Dunkirk. Jay County auditor Nancy Culy said Dunkirk officials indicated to her that they would assume ownership of the property, currently owned by the county on back taxes, when cleanup is complete.

•Were informed by Jay County Emergency Management Agency director Ralph Frazee that a Redkey resident had complained about flooding in the area around Harrison Street in the town.

Frazee said that Redkey does not participate in a flood insurance program, but that he would speak to town officials about becoming involved.

Frazee also said he was informed by Jay County Surveyor Brad Daniels that work crews would be heading to the area to do ditch cleaning once after they finish with current jobs.

•Signed a resolution to convey a property at 614 N. Williams St., Portland, to the City of Portland. Once Portland adopts a similar resolution accepting the property, the county will deed the property to the city.

•Were informed by Al Confer, a member of the Visitor and Tourism Commission, that the commissioners' appointee Darrell Borders did not attend a recent meeting and has missed the commission's annual meeting since 2003. The commissioners told Confer they would contact Borders and seek a replacement if he does not want to serve on the board.[[In-content Ad]]