Moving plans mulled (02/03/2009)

Moving plans are in the works.

John Knipp, director of the Jay County office of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, discussed some preliminary plans with Jay County Commissioners Monday afternoon as he prepares to move his office out of the courthouse annex on West Arch Street into a recently-purchased building at 162 N. Meridian St.

The transaction to purchase the building completed Monday as commissioner Milo Miller Jr. dropped off the $130,000 check to MainSource Bank.

Knipp said he is still getting prices on the cost to rework the building's phone and data lines to serve the office. He will continue to gather those numbers and report back to commissioners.

"We don't know yet," he said.

The two also discussed how much space the extension office will take over in the building. Knipp said he plans to occupy the entire downstairs, which consists of a larger foyer and four offices, as well as two of the five offices upstairs.

Miller wanted to hash out exactly how many offices Knipp and his employees, would be using, asking if they would really need an additional two offices upstairs and suggested putting multiple employees into one space if possible.

"Those rooms look bigger than they are," Knipp said, explaining that the downstairs offices aren't large enough to accommodate two employees and office units. "We can't fit."

"If someone comes in the front door and wants to rent a room, I'm going to rent it," Miller said. The county had no particular plans for the upstairs offices, but will likely use them for storage and will rent them out to interested parties.

Knipp said he also wanted to establish a conference room for meetings and other events hosted by extension.

"Go ahead and use what you want," Miller conceded, not overly concerned with the space issue. "I don't see anyone beating on the door wanting to rent a room."

In other business Monday afternoon, the commissioners:

•Spoke with SchenkelShultz architect Jeff Badders, who said environmental crews will begin removing asbestos from the jail expansion site on Saturday.

Badders also presented the commissioners with a conceptual drawing of what the Main Street façade on the jail can look like. The commissioners' reaction to the initial drawing was positive.

•Spoke with Jay County EMS director Teresa Foster-Geesaman, who wants to raise the prices of some supplies used in ambulances during medical runs. The county will have to pass an ordinance to increase those prices.

•Authorized Community Corrections director Yvette Weiland to begin sending out collection notices to offenders on home detention who have not paid their fees.[[In-content Ad]]