Truck will be repaired

An insurance payout will allow the county to repair a surveyor’s department truck damaged by a tornado in the Bryant area.
Jay County Surveyor Brad Daniels told the Jay County Commissioners this morning that the county’s insurance will pay $4,000 for the truck, which was damaged in an April 19 twister that rolled through Bearcreek and Wabash townships.
Daniels said the quote he received from Hutzler Collision Repair, Portland, to repair the vehicle was $3,978.47.
“Mechanically, it’s in great shape,” Daniels said. “It’s a 2000, so it’s an older truck. But it is a good heavy-duty truck.”
Daniels said the body and windshield of the truck were damaged when a garage collapsed on top of it.
The truck was parked at an employee’s home and is used to travel to and from job sites.
The commissioners questioned whether Daniels might want to approach the Jay County Council and see if they’d be willing to release funding to purchase a new vehicle.
Daniels said the current truck would still be serviceable after the repairs and noted he might float the idea to council members at their meeting Wednesday night.
In either case, the commissioners gave Daniels approval to have the truck repaired.
In other business this morning, the commissioners:
•Were informed by Daniels that a private brush removal crew is working in Redkey to try to help thin out some vegetation around town ditches to improve drainage. The company was hired since the surveyor’s department is unable to maneuver heavier equipment inside the town.
In a related matter, the commissioners heard a complaint from Redkey resident Jim Olvey about the Halfway Ditch in Redkey. Olvey presented Daniels and commissioners with photos of the ditch in town.
Daniels scheduled a time to meet with Olvey in Redkey today to discuss the ditch.
•Were informed by Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District and Jay County Solid Waste District educator Bettie Jacobs that two elementary school field days will be taking place later this month.
Local fourth graders will attend a field day at the Jay County Fairgrounds on May 24 and fifth graders will be at the Loblolly Marsh Wetland Preserve on May 26.
•Were invited to an open house at Fort Recovery Construction and Equipment.
•Were informed by Jay County Emergency Management Agency director Ralph Frazee that the tornado siren on top of the courthouse was struck by lightning and damaged.
Frazee will speak with the county’s insurance agent Steve Stockton about the issue.
•Were informed by Jay County Sheriff Ray Newton that he is in talks with a new provider for medical services at the Jay County Jail. Newton and current provider Dr. Mark Haggenjos are reviewing options.
•Received an update from Bryant resident Jim Spade about progress on a sewer project in the town. Spade said that engineering plans are finalized and the town plans to bid the project on May 24.
The county provided $60,000 in Economic Development Income Tax funds to assist Bryant with that project.[[In-content Ad]]