July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Miller unhappy with ag chief's comments (9/20/05)
Commissioners' president contacts state office
By By Mike Snyder-
Comments made recently by the state’s top agricultural official didn’t sit too well with Jay County Commissioners — especially Milo Miller Jr.
Miller, who has been a commissioner since the early 1990s, said Monday he was upset with comments reportedly made by Andy Miller, director of the new Indiana State Department of Agriculture.
Andy Miller was quoted in a story by Gary Truitt of the Brownfield (radio) Network as saying at a recent speech to pork producers that leaders in several East Central Indiana counties, including Jay, did not understand the value of livestock operations.
A spokesperson from the ISDA said today she was not present during the speech in question and could not speak to what was written.
In two phone conversations Monday, Milo Miller Jr. told agriculture department officials that Jay County does value livestock operations and has never turned one away. But he also told the officials that he and others believe the level of confined feeding operations in the county is nearing the point of “saturation.”
Commissioners Gary Theurer and Faron Parr said they were somewhat baffled by Andy Miller’s comments — especially Theurer, who is a farmer and confined feeding operator.
“We meet every Monday, and (Andy Miller) is welcome to come up,” the president of Jay County Commissioners said in a phone conversation with someone from the department of agriculture. “We’ve never turned down anybody ... if (Andy Miller) has a problem with that, tell him to call me.”
Andy Miller recently sent a letter to Blackford County Commissioners and Blackford County Council regarding agricultural operations — especially confined feeding operations (CFOs) and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
In the letter, he said ISDA would work to locate agricultural operations outside of Blackford County if local officials were not receptive.
“We have many, many counties that are clamoring for new agricultural operations, like ethanol facilities or livestock operations,” Miller wrote. “If Blackford County does not want these types of farms and agribusinesses in their county, we will encourage these farmers and businessmen to consider other counties throughout the state.”
Deborah Abbott, a spokesperson for ISDA, said this morning that the letter was meant to seek guidance from Blackford County officials over where they stood on livestock and other ag-related operations.
“We want to provide the tools to counties to help them understand how ... agricultural economic development can be helpful to their towns,” Abbott said. “It’s something we’re working with every county on.”
In other business Monday, Miller, Parr and Theurer:
•Appointed Ruth Ann Widman to the board of directors for the John Jay Center for Learning.
•Took under advisement a request by Jay County treasurer Fran Milthaler to close her office for a week following the fall property tax deadline on Thursday, Nov. 10. Milthaler said the closure would allow her staff to do complete necessary paperwork. The treasurer’s office closed for three days following the spring tax deadline.
•Approved writing off $8,782.72 in uncollectible debt for Jay Emergency Medical Service.
•Learned from John Spiedel of Butler, Fairman and Seufert that approval is pending from the Indiana Historical Bureau on a proposed project to relocate a bridge over a Knox Township creek to a Portland park. The county has received grant funding for the project, which would move a steel truss bridge to a spot over the Salamonie River in Portland to connect Weiler-Wilson Park with Hudson Family Park.
Spiedel also said that a study regarding water flow around Bridge 10, which carries county road 750 East over the Wabash River on the east side of New Corydon, is nearly complete. The study was done after New Corydon residents had requested that the possibility of building up county road 750 East be explored to provide access in and out of town during flooding.
•Talked briefly with Fred M. Bailey about three buildings he has for sale on the southwest corner of Commerce and West Main streets near the Jay County Courthouse. The buildings, which are connected, are being offered by Bailey at $33,000 each.
The commissioners, who are searching for auxiliary parking, have made offers to purchase a building on Walnut Street north of the courthouse, but those offers have been rejected.[[In-content Ad]]
Miller, who has been a commissioner since the early 1990s, said Monday he was upset with comments reportedly made by Andy Miller, director of the new Indiana State Department of Agriculture.
Andy Miller was quoted in a story by Gary Truitt of the Brownfield (radio) Network as saying at a recent speech to pork producers that leaders in several East Central Indiana counties, including Jay, did not understand the value of livestock operations.
A spokesperson from the ISDA said today she was not present during the speech in question and could not speak to what was written.
In two phone conversations Monday, Milo Miller Jr. told agriculture department officials that Jay County does value livestock operations and has never turned one away. But he also told the officials that he and others believe the level of confined feeding operations in the county is nearing the point of “saturation.”
Commissioners Gary Theurer and Faron Parr said they were somewhat baffled by Andy Miller’s comments — especially Theurer, who is a farmer and confined feeding operator.
“We meet every Monday, and (Andy Miller) is welcome to come up,” the president of Jay County Commissioners said in a phone conversation with someone from the department of agriculture. “We’ve never turned down anybody ... if (Andy Miller) has a problem with that, tell him to call me.”
Andy Miller recently sent a letter to Blackford County Commissioners and Blackford County Council regarding agricultural operations — especially confined feeding operations (CFOs) and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
In the letter, he said ISDA would work to locate agricultural operations outside of Blackford County if local officials were not receptive.
“We have many, many counties that are clamoring for new agricultural operations, like ethanol facilities or livestock operations,” Miller wrote. “If Blackford County does not want these types of farms and agribusinesses in their county, we will encourage these farmers and businessmen to consider other counties throughout the state.”
Deborah Abbott, a spokesperson for ISDA, said this morning that the letter was meant to seek guidance from Blackford County officials over where they stood on livestock and other ag-related operations.
“We want to provide the tools to counties to help them understand how ... agricultural economic development can be helpful to their towns,” Abbott said. “It’s something we’re working with every county on.”
In other business Monday, Miller, Parr and Theurer:
•Appointed Ruth Ann Widman to the board of directors for the John Jay Center for Learning.
•Took under advisement a request by Jay County treasurer Fran Milthaler to close her office for a week following the fall property tax deadline on Thursday, Nov. 10. Milthaler said the closure would allow her staff to do complete necessary paperwork. The treasurer’s office closed for three days following the spring tax deadline.
•Approved writing off $8,782.72 in uncollectible debt for Jay Emergency Medical Service.
•Learned from John Spiedel of Butler, Fairman and Seufert that approval is pending from the Indiana Historical Bureau on a proposed project to relocate a bridge over a Knox Township creek to a Portland park. The county has received grant funding for the project, which would move a steel truss bridge to a spot over the Salamonie River in Portland to connect Weiler-Wilson Park with Hudson Family Park.
Spiedel also said that a study regarding water flow around Bridge 10, which carries county road 750 East over the Wabash River on the east side of New Corydon, is nearly complete. The study was done after New Corydon residents had requested that the possibility of building up county road 750 East be explored to provide access in and out of town during flooding.
•Talked briefly with Fred M. Bailey about three buildings he has for sale on the southwest corner of Commerce and West Main streets near the Jay County Courthouse. The buildings, which are connected, are being offered by Bailey at $33,000 each.
The commissioners, who are searching for auxiliary parking, have made offers to purchase a building on Walnut Street north of the courthouse, but those offers have been rejected.[[In-content Ad]]
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