Variance for garage is on hold

The Jay County Commissioners tabled a request for a variance that would allow a Redkey man to build a garage near Halfway Creek.

The delay will allow crews from the Jay County Surveyor's department to stabilize an eroding creek bank on the property.

The commissioners, in their capacity as drainage board, heard a variance request from Teddy Baldwin, who wants to build a garage within the county right-of-way at 228 E. High St. in Redkey.

The garage would come within about 10 feet of a ditch near the property, but Jay County surveyor Brad Daniels said he will need at least 25 feet of space to get in to add some concrete to the area to keep the ditch from eroding.

"I'd never be able to get in there to stabilize that ditch," Daniels said of the property if the commissioners allowed Baldwin to build the garage.

Baldwin, who had spoken with Daniels before the meeting, said he would be willing to wait to erect the garage until a crew could come out and fix the ditch. Daniels said it may be a month before that work could be completed.

Daniels told the commissioners that once that side is repaired, there should be no problem, since the opposite side of the ditch is bare ground where workers would be able to maneuver in to do cleaning or other maintenance.

The commissioners voted to table the request until the ground can be stabilized. After that, the commissioners anticipate that there should be no problem with approving the variance.

"Once (Daniels) gets it done, you're ready to roll," commissioner Milo Miller Jr. told Baldwin.

In other business this morning, the commissioners:

•Asked attorney George Lopez to draft a letter to property owners who are delinquent on taxes of the 83 properties that did not sell at a recent tax sale.

Lopez advised the commissioners to send a letter informing those owners that they are liable for those amounts and that the county may file suit in claims court for the amounts owed.

Lopez said the county may be granted judgments for those owed taxes and could still seek to sell the properties in an attempt to get them back on the tax rolls.

•Heard a presentation from representatives from Liberty National, a life insurance provider. Liberty is offering a portable life insurance policy that would be valid until age 100. The commissioners said they would speak with department heads to see if there is interest in the program.[[In-content Ad]]