Poll places will be moved

The decision to buy electronic poll books sparked a consolidation of polling places.
Jay County Commissioners on Monday morning unanimously approved sending Greene, Pike and Jefferson precinct voters to the Jefferson precinct’s polling place at Freeman Scouting Facility. They were also updated on a possible investor in equipment from a now-bankrupt company.
Members of the Jay County Election Board approached commissioners to discuss the lack of indoor plumbing at Pike and Greene’s sites and the benefit of having all three at the complex.
Poll workers at Greene Township Community Building have to use an outhouse, while those at Pike’s Bluff Point Community Center have to travel across the road to use a church’s restroom, explained member Missy Elliott.
“It’s not the best of conditions,” said Elliott, adding that state statute says clerks aren’t allowed to leave the building they’re working in.
The combination decreases the amount of polling places in the county to 11 from 13, with 1,635 voters using the scouting facility, which is located near Jay County Landfill at 4681 W. 450 South, Portland.
It will also decrease the amount of poll workers for the three precincts to five or six from the current 15.
Board member Ellen Coats said now is the time to merge before the county purchases electronic poll books — they were approved at Wednesday’s Jay County Council meeting — so as not to buy more than necessary.
“It’s better to go ahead and get it done now before we spend money buying these,” said Coats.
She’s planning to buy 13 book, one for each polling place with two extras for use during busier election days or at highly-trafficked sites. The new process will allow poll workers to check in voters through use of an iPad and software to scan driver’s licenses.
Commissioners approved the measure, reminding that those who don’t like the move always have the option to vote early at Jay County Courthouse.
“Traveling distance isn’t going to be that much different,” said Jim Zimmerman. “With early voting accessible here … (residents have) the opportunity to vote early in Portland.”
Commissioners were also updated by Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley that investors will be looking at the equipment being housed at GFT Corporation in Pennville.
“I can’t wait to wave the equipment as it goes down the road,” said Bradley. “It’s been seven years.”
The company took root in the county in 2005, with Jay County investing in the start-up high tech insulation firm with a $400,000 loan from economic development income (EDIT) tax dollars in 2008. Pennville Industrial Development Corporation granted GFT a $550,000 loan, with MainSource Bank also providing loan funds to the company.
But the company failed to meet investment and employment requirements for the loans, and the county took over the property as a result of a lawsuit. It is in the process of liquidating its assets.
Those assets include three large pieces of machinery, including one appraised at $200,000.
Bradley believes the investors will finally rid the building of some of the machines, which will allow it to be used by another company that has shown interest in the area.
The proceeds of the sale will be split among the county, Pennville Industrial Development Corporation and MainSource Bank.
In other business, commissioners:
•Heard a request from Judy McIntire, 3752 W. 350 South, Portland, to deny a confined feeding operation building permit application near her home. She said the operation doesn’t adhere to the county’s setbacks and that the map included in the CFO’s application left out multiple neighboring properties.
Zimmerman told McIntire to talk to Bill Milligan, director of Jay/Portland Building and Planning, about her concerns, but said he’d also look into the situation.
•Adopted a resolution detailing procedures for state and federal grants. All government departments will need to complete an application with the county before applying for any grant. The commissioners will then need to approve the application before it’s sent. Once the grant is awarded, all paperwork must be provided to the auditor’s office for filing.
•Approved hiring a new dispatcher for Jay County Sheriff’s Office, which was previously OK’d by Jay County Council during budget hearings. Sheriff Ray Newton will begin the application process immediately, with the employee to begin after Jan. 1.
•Signed the 2015 LifeStream Services application from Indiana Department of Transportation for capital assistance and a grant contract from INDOT to replace vehicles.