Search OK'd by council (12/11/2008)

The Jay County Council gave verbal approval to continue looking into the possibility of purchasing another building to alleviate cramped conditions at the county courthouse annex.

Commissioner Milo Miller Jr. informed the council that he has been looking into a possible purchase of the former First National Bank building, 126 N. Meridian St., which was foreclosed by the bank which held the mortgage.

Miller has been investigating the building as a possible solution to space limitations at the 509 West Arch St. annex building, which currently houses the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service and Jay County Health Department offices.

The commissioners took bids on an expansion project for the Arch Street annex, but when bids came in between $90,000 to $115,000 for the project, the idea was scrapped. As the old bank became available, however, the commissioners began looking at it another option.

"They probably spent over $200,000 fixing it up," Miller said of the 126 N. Meridian building, which sits on the southwest corner of Meridian and Walnut streets. "I didn't know if you'd be interested in spending some money from the infrastructure fund to purchase it."

The building has two floors, with four rooms and a bathroom upstairs and four rooms, a bathroom, and a large foyer area on the lower level. Miller estimated the building is about 4,500 square feet - large enough for the county to move the extension office into and use the additional space as storage.

"Keep sniffing it out," encouraged councilman Gerald Kirby. "It does sound like something handy to have." The other council members also encouraged Miller and the commissioners to continue pursuing the purchase.

Miller wouldn't state the asking price. The property was purchased at sheriff's sale earlier this year by MainSource Financial Group at a price of $130,000.

In other business Wednesday night, the council council:

•Were thanked by outgoing Superior Court Judge Joel Roberts for their cooperation and work with his department during his term at judge.

•Approved an additional appropriation of $160,000 to the cumulative bridge fund for work on two bridges on county road 750 West between 500 and 550 North.

•Approved two appropriations to the deferral fund: $1,777 to cover grant differences for the victim advocate program and $350 to replace a decoy deer used by Indiana Conservation Officers.

•Approved $770 to the sheriff's continuing education fund to cover costs of additional training for officers.

•Tabled an appropriation of $7,500 to the Economic Development Income Tax fund, since no members of the Jay County Development Corporation were available to explain how the money would be used.

•Approved two transfers, $766.44 and $394 to be used to purchase copier paper.

•Approved a transfer of $300 to the ICE program.

•Approved a transfer of $11,225 for the highway department, which will be used to purchase another salt bin.

•Approved three transfers, one for $300 and two for $5,000, in the JEMS budget to pay wages for reserves.

•Received copies and information about the new personnel policy from consultant Kent Irwin. Irwin explained how the policy was created and laid out and encouraged the council to ratify it before the end of the year if possible. The council has tentatively scheduled a special meeting for Dec. 29 at 6 p.m. to sign the policy and handle other business.

•Gave a verbal consensus for deputy public defender Tom Diller to begin searching for an additional attorney to add to his office. Diller, who is seeking to add another attorney to help with case overload in an effort to avoid losing state funding, said he has already spoken with eight or nine people who are interested in the position. The public defender position will cost a salary of about $48,600, but will save the department more than $60,000 if it helps to retain state funding.

•Received an update on progress of the jail expansion from Miller, who informed council members that the commissioners secured contracts with SchenkelShultz architecture, financial consultant Greg Guerrettaz and attorney Sue Beesley. Miller said SchenkelShultz is working on drawings and added that the county could be ready to take bids on the project by April.

•Presented outgoing council members Jim Zimmerman and Judy LeMaster certificates of appreciation for their service as members of the council. Their replacements, Gary Theurer and Dan Orr, were elected to the council and will join for the remaining members for their first meeting in January.

[[In-content Ad]]