July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

Proposal sent back for work (09/25/07)

Jay County Commissioners

By By TRAVIS MINNEAR-

The Commercial Review

It's back to the drawing board for a proposal meant to expand a county ordinance regulating setback requirements for commercial livestock operations.

After receiving a recommendation from the Jay County Planning Commission Monday that would require smaller operations than are currently outlined to meet the same setback rules as larger confined feeding operations, commissioners sent it back for modifications.

Setback rules refer to a combination of location and distance for confined feeding operations and concentrated animal feeding facilities.

Changes offered by the planning commission's recommendation deal with the definition for the words "confined feeding" being added to the ordinance governing setbacks.

The term "confined feeding facility" already exists in the ordinance. The definition sets minimum requirements for the population of animals necessary for an operation to meet setbacks in Jay County. "Confined feeding" does not contain numerical stipulations.

According to the proposal put forth by the planning commission, locations where "The confined feeding of animals for foods, fur or pleasure purposes on lots, pens, ponds, sheds or buildings where all food is supplied to the animals by means other than grazing" would be subject to setback requirements.

Commissioners said they would like to seek further legal counsel and hear altered versions of potential ordinance changes before making a decision on the measure.

"(We want) more information on the wording" of the recommendation, Commissioner Milo Miller Jr. said.

Commissioner Gary Theurer, also a member of the planning commission, said proposed changes are not meant to punish individual livestock owners, but to make sure all operations follow the same standards.

Theurer added the planning commission would attempt to tackle the issue at its next meeting, which has not been scheduled.

Also Monday, a new face was added to the Jay County Planning Commission. Commissioners selected Jon Campbell, Wabash Township, to fill a vacancy on the board left by Don Loy, who resigned during summer.

In other business, Jay County Assessor Anita Mills met with commissioners to discuss details of the tax reassessment on commercial and industrial properties ordered by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.

Mills said in an interview after the meeting that her office is ready to move forward with reassessments and hopes to have the process completed in December.

Ad Valorem Solutions, Kokomo, the vendor that originally conducted property assessments, also will do the reassessment. Mills believes the company followed correct procedures even though DLGF officials said assessed values for commercial and industrial properties did not show adequate change from 1999 to 2005.

This is the first year since 1999 that property values have been updated. They are calculated by a process called trending, where formulas and sales information are used to see how values changed from 1999 to 2005.

Jay County previously used sales comparisons for determining changes in values, Mills said. This time officials plan to use the Marshall and Swift appraisal system to figure values.

Mills said the county is working closely with the state to ensure a proper outcome.

"We want to know exactly, precisely what she (DLGF Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave) wants step by step," she said.

Separately on Monday, Jay County Commissioners took the following action:

•Decided to purchase an International 7600 dump truck for $80,987 from Selking International, Muncie.

•Agreed to pay $6,684 to Atlas Building Services Inc. for repairs on the Jay County Courthouse. Maintenance includes work on cornices and the capstones on the north and west elevations and of the building.

•Made Rob Smith, superintendent for the Jay County Retirement Center, purchasing agent for a new lawnmower.



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