Sheriff contract ready for council (12/11/06)

It appears that next year, for the first time ever, Jay County's sheriff will be working under contract.

Jay County Commissioners today discussed at length a four-year contract that will be presented during Wednesday night's Jay County Council meeting to incoming sheriff, Ray Newton.

The sheriff's salary, until now, has included money from the county budget as well as fees collected for taxes, and money not used for feeding inmates, putting his salary over $100,000 annually.

Commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Gary Theurer, and Faron Parr declined to release a proposed salary included in the contract, noting that council members must also approve the contract's details.

The contract must be approved before Newton takes office on Jan. 1.

In other business, commissioners tabled action on bids for assessor Anita Mills' request for appraisal services.

One-year contract bids were received from Appraisal Research of Findlay, Ohio, for $27,806 and from AdValorem Solutions, Kokomo, for $30,600.

Mills said she had worked with the Kokomo firm and although the bid was higher, recommended commissions award that bid.

Commissioners asked Mills to look over the bids and make a recommendation at their Dec. 18 meeting.

The appraisal services provides annual adjustments for the 2007 tax year.

Commissioners today also approved a request from county engineer, Dan Watson, for the purchase of another vehicle for his department, and made him purchasing agent.

They approved his request for a Chevy Blazer from Ken Kunkle Chevrolet of Portland for $17,000. The 2005 model has 6,000 miles and is still under warranty, Watson said.[[In-content Ad]]