Rates up on watersheds (06/23/08)

The Jay County Drainage Board raised assessments on six watersheds this morning.

Jay County Commissioners, in their capacity as drainage board, approved additional fees on six watersheds to help pull those funds out of debt.

Although most went through without any public discourse, two of the fee hikes were challenged by Jay County residents.

Glen Miller came to contest an increase in fees for the D.V. Flesher watershed in Pike Township.

Jay County Surveyor Brad Daniels recommended an increase to $2 per acre and $20 per plot, up from $1 and $10, respectively.

"I've got to save my money for heating this winter," Miller said.

The watershed, however, is $11,978.13 in the red. Miller suggested leaving the fees as they are and holding out on any new work in the area until the debt is overcome.

"We're over six years in debt," said commissioner Farron Parr.

"We got to keep these ditches up," said Don Muhlenkamp, another resident within the bounds of that watershed. "I don't know how you can keep them up without raising (the fee)."

Commissioner Milo Miller Jr. was willing to compromise on the cost.

"Settle for a buck and a half?" asked Milo Miller.

"I like it the way it is," Glen Miller responded. A cut in the acreage assessment would do him no good, as he only owns one plot in the area.

The commissioners approved raising the fee to $1.50 per acre and $20 per plot, despite the protest.

Two residents also challenged fee increases on the Goss Switzer watershed in Bearcreek and Wabash townships. Frances Goss disapproved of the increase, stating that county crews hadn't done any work in the area to constitute raising the fee.

The $17,592 debt accumulated in that area stated otherwise. Robert Schmit also came to the hearing, but was understanding that the county would need to raise fees to continue services.

Daniels showed Goss and Schmit where crews had been cleaning ditches and replacing tiles in the area.

All the work had been done in areas outside Goss' property, and once she saw where the money was going it helped to quell the protest.

An increase to $2 per acre and $20 per plot was approved for that area, up from $1 and $12.50, respectively.

Other watershed assessments increased include:

•Switzer, Bearcreek and Wabash townships, $655 debt - $1 per acre and $20 per plot, up from 36 cents and $3.74, respectively.

•Lupton, Penn and Knox townships, $4,143 debt - $2 per acre and $20 per plot, up from $1.50 and $20, respectively.

•Geeseman, Greene Township, $4,934.65 debt - $2 per acre and $20 per plot, up from $1 and $12.50, respectively.

•Summers, Penn Township, $354 debt - Daniels will seek approval from the area's three residents by petition to increase the fee to at least $1 per acre, up from 62 cents.

In other business Monday, the commissioners:

•Heard more information from attorney Lon Racster about imposing a new flood control ordinance. The county will require a new ordinance that will affect how property owners can obtain flood insurance if they are located in a flood plain. The commissioners will need to pass a new, updated ordinance in the coming weeks.

•Signed documents prior to construction of the Dunkirk combined fire and emergency medical station presented by community developer Ami Huffman. Construction on the station will likely start the second week of July and should take 210 days to complete.

•Received a sample ordinance from county sheriff Ray Newton on charging for "weekenders" at the jail. Newton has suggested a fee for people serving between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Sunday to cover costs related to these temporary inmates. Racster reviewed the sample ordinance received from Fulton County and said he will work with Newton to draft one for Jay County.

•Received two bids for companies vying for new construction assessment from the assessor's office. The commissioners tabled the bids until county assessor Terry LeMaster could review them.[[In-content Ad]]