Watershed hearings planned

The Jay County Commissioners will hold a public hearing in January to consider whether to combine 25 watersheds into the Salamonie River watershed.
Jay County Surveyor Brad Daniels pushed for the move earlier this year but the issue stalled during the summer. He brought it up again Nov. 8, and now the commissioners are ready to move on it.
The combination will move 25 watersheds into the Salamonie watershed. The move will not only reduce some administration work but will also leave a larger pool of available funds to perform maintenance work around the Salamonie.
The watersheds in the proposed combination all have current positive balances.
The drainage assessment, if the combination is passed, will remain at the current Salamonie rate of $1 per acre and $12.50 per plot, which will lead to rate changes — some up and some down — in 22 of the 25 watersheds.
Nine watersheds will see a decrease in acreage and plot rates, including: Bolen, Freemyer, Hodge WM, Houts P, Dorsey Louck, Russell Brigs, Stultz, Taylor and Walters F. The Williamson and Hiatt watersheds will experience a decrease in the acreage rate but increase in the lot rate.
Three watersheds will have a decrease in the lot rate and no change in acreage rate including: Abromson, Burkey Hilton and Daugherty.
Three watersheds will see an increase in the lot rate but no change in per acre rate, including: Grissell Mason, Mast, and Two Mile.
And three watersheds — Glentzer, Grissell Arthur and Walling H — will see no change in rates.
The commissioners set a public hearing for the proposed combination for Jan. 24 at 9 a.m. in the Jay County Courthouse auditorium.[[In-content Ad]]