Two CAFOs apply for permits

Two confined feeding operations that would have a capacity to house more than 1.8 million chickens and 8,000 hogs recently applied to Indiana Department of Environmental Management for a construction permit in Jay County.
Jay County Commissioners Monday morning opened notifications of building permit applications with IDEM for a chicken operation in Noble Township and a hog operation in Wayne Township. They also heard from Jay County Sheriff-elect Dwane Ford about the need for maintenance personnel at Jay County Jail.
Minnich Poultry, 8563 E. 200 North, Portland, applied for a permit for a proposed expansion of 10 layer buildings — with six to be built immediately, leaving the possibility for four in the future — as an addition to its current complex, which houses 1.3 million layers. The application, which was submitted to IDEM on Oct. 14, shows six buildings holding a maximum capacity of 1.8 million hens.
The expansion will include construction of mechanical ventilation, manure storage, an egg processing building and egg wash water storage impoundment. The manure storeroom will provide one year of storage, with the manure to be marketed to grain farmers.
Hemmelgarn Livestock LLC sent an application to IDEM proposing construction of two grow-to-finish pig production buildings at 648 S. 300 East, rural Portland. At maximum capacity, each barn will hold 4,400 pigs and include below-building, concrete manure storages and mechanical ventilation. The storages will have a capacity of 287 days worth of manure, which will be used as a soil amendment and fertilizer to crops grown by owner Ken Hemmelgarn and other grain farmers in the area.
Hemmelgarn submitted the application Oct. 3.
Both applications will be open for public comment for at least 30 days, with IDEM accepting written comments from residents.
Ford got a jumpstart on the role he will fill beginning Jan. 1 by asking commissioners for consideration of a new position at Jay County Jail.
While spending time learning procedures at the jail, Ford said he witnessed jail commander Nathan Keever doing maintenance work for the facility. Before he takes office, Ford said he’d like to see that change for the benefit of both Keever and the jail with the hiring of a maintenance worker.
“We don’t want it to go downhill,” said Ford of the jail which was constructed in 2010. “There’s a lot of maintenance in that place. … I think we could save … more than their salary by having someone.”
Ford proposed adding the position, but doesn’t know yet whether it will need to be a full-time or part-time job. He suggested an alternative that would see an employee used countywide instead of exclusively for the jail, helping additional departments and possibly saving more money.
Commissioners told Ford they’d consider the request once he gathered information about how much it would cost.
“It’s something we could look into,” said Milo Miller Jr.
In other business, commissioners Jim Zimmerman, Faron Parr and Miller:
•Approved asking Jay County Council for $16,400 in infrastructure funds for fencing and garage and furnace repairs for Jay County Retirement Center.
•Heard from Jay County Chamber of Commerce executive director Dean Sanders about the upcoming Winterfest. The event will take place Nov. 20 through 23 and will include activities such as the Little Miss Winterfest pageant, a community sing, carriage rides, lighting the Christmas tree, a live nativity production, parade of lights, visits with Santa and a carnival.
•Approved auditor Nancy Culy to order 10,000 county maps, at a cost of $1,750, for the citizens of Jay County. The maps will be printed by The Graphic Printing Company.
•Were updated by Jay County Emergency Management director Ralph Frazee that his department received a shipment of weather radios provided by a grant and they are available to residents for free. Frazee told commissioners for residents to receive one, they need to visit his office at the Jay County Sheriff’s Office, 224 W Water St, Portland, or call (260) 726-6909 to sign up for it.