Commissioners back application

A missed deadline has left local officials scrambling for funds for a watershed management project.
Jay County Commissioners on Monday morning approved support for a grant application with the Indiana Department of Agriculture’s Soil Conservation Board. The $75,000 grant would allow the Upper Salamonie River Watershed project to continue implementing its plan of improving the river’s water quality in Jay and Blackford Counties.
The effort was originally funded by the Federal 2014 Clean Water Act Section 319 Grant, which will end in 2016 after a two-year contract.
To receive the second phase of the grant, Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District educator Bettie Jacobs and watershed coordinator Tim Kroeker needed to complete a letter of intent to apply by June — a change in Indiana Department of Environmental Management requirements they weren’t aware of. Learning this information after the deadline had already passed, Kroeker won’t be eligible to apply for the grant until June 2015.
Kroeker still plans to apply for the grant next year, but it would leave a yearlong gap during which there would be no funding for his position.
“I’m going to take full responsibility. … We didn’t have any idea,” said Jacobs, adding that other counties are dealing with the same issue. “I guess we’re not the only SWCD caught in the surprise.”
A Clean Water of Indiana Grants for 2015 through 2017 from the state soil conservation board could bridge that gap. The grant allows for a maximum $75,000 disbursement, with 50 percent given up front and the rest allotted at the end of the grant period.
Preferring to have the funds in one lump sum to pay for the coordinator position throughout the year, Jacobs asked whether commissioners would be willing to help pay part of the remaining $37,500, which the watershed project would reimburse after it receives the last payment of grant funds. She added that she’d be requesting the same of Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District and Blackford County’s Soil and Water Conservation District.
Commissioners told Jacobs they’d support her application for the grant as a partner and consider helping with funding once they learn whether the watershed receives the grant. Jacobs said the grants should be awarded around the first of the year.
The application will be ready to file Monday, said Jacobs, just in time for the Oct. 1 deadline.
In other business, commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Jim Zimmerman and Faron Parr:
•Appointed members to the Advisory Study Group for the Plan Commission, which will take 90 days to review the county’s confined feeding ordinance and return to Jay County Plan Commission with recommendations for changes. The members include chairman Larry Temple, Scott Hilfiker, Steve Reier, Connie Ronald, Jane Anne Runyon, Joe Johnston, Rex Journay and Parr as a non-voting member.
•Recommended an amended ordinance to Jay County Plan Commission that would increase subsequent day fines of zoning ordinance violations from $300 to the maximum allowed by law, which is currently set at $7,500. The issue will go back to the commission, which will hold a public hearing before being able to bring it back to commissioners for final approval.
•Approved combining three parcels into one drainage assessment, acting as Jay County Drainage Board. The parcels belong to Greg Pfeifer, 5528 N. Liberty Road, Portland.
•Adopted the new Jay Emergency Medical Service base ambulance run fees, after approving a $150 increase across the board at last week’s meeting. The basic run rate will be $650, advanced run rate $850 and advanced 2 run rate $1,050.
•Scheduled an executive session at 8 a.m. Oct. 6 to interview candidates for the position of JEMS director.
•Accepted a quote from L. VanSkyock and Sons to repair the garage at Jay County Retirement Center. The quote was the lowest of three at $8,475.