Commissioners declare disaster

Those affected by last week’s flood may soon know whether disaster relief will be available for repairs.
Jay County Commissioners on Tuesday morning signed a declaration acknowledging last week’s flooding as a disaster situation for Dunkirk and Redkey, which both had about 10 inches of rain.
They also signed a resolution opposing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed authority expansion.
The declaration is a formality in the application for state disaster relief assistance, said emergency management agency director Ralph Frazee.
“We counted almost 80 homes that were affected in some way,” said Frazee, adding that the amount of damage could make the county eligible for state aid but not for federal assistance. “Hopefully, we’ll get some word. … It’s not going to be a federal response. The best it could be would be state response.”
In addition to seeking funding, the agency is also working alongside organizations such as United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and Indiana Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster to help in supplying labor or other necessities to repair homes that were damaged or destroyed.
Frazee told commissioners a meeting is set up between Dunkirk Mayor Dan Watson and representatives from Purdue Extension Disaster Education Network and UMCOR to work on a long-term disaster relief plan, with an aim to set up a committee to deal with the flood’s aftermath.
Commissioners Jim Zimmerman and Faron Parr, absent Milo Miller Jr., also approved a resolution “opposing the expansion of federal control under the Clean Water Act” proposed by the EPA.
While agreeing that the act helps to prevent pollution and other hazards, commissioners disagree with the agency’s proposed expansion to claim jurisdiction over areas of water already covered by county departments. This includes ditches maintained by the Jay County Highway Department and drains covered by the Jay County Drainage Board.
Believing the proposal will increase costs and create delays for maintenance, commissioners request in the resolution that the EPA narrow its authority to allow the county to continue its services.