Center could be added to register

Jay County may have a new historic landmark.
Kay Locker, co-president of Jay County Historical Society, told Jay County Commissioners on Monday that Indiana Landmarks is interested in making Jay County Retirement Center, one of 10 surviving county homes to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. The organization is responsible for preserving historic buildings in the state.
Commissioners Faron Parr, Jim Zimmerman and Doug Inman need more information before they can proceed.
Inman said being recognized as a historical landmark can limit options for the building. He cites a situation he encountered with the John Jay Center for Learning project, which involved the restoration of a building that was recognized as a historical landmark in Portland.
“That’s the one potential downside,” said Inman. “If it’s a historic property and there needs to be a major renovation it has to be historically accurate. More than normally it drives up the cost.”
Commissioners tabled the matter until Locker finds out if the building, located at 1194 E. 200 North, still qualifies for the recognition since it has been renovated several times.
In other business, the commissioners:
•Approved a request for a drainage assessment at 3494 N. 300 East. Property owner Benjamin Eicher wants his two plots to be combined into a single assessment. Elevation measurements of the property will be taken next week.
•Heard from Sheriff Dwane Ford, who is buying a dog to establish a new K-9 unit for Jay County Sheriff’s Department. The cost of the dog is about $7,000, said Ford, and the department has selected one already. He is currently exploring options to pay for the dog, including donations.

Ford is also looking into leasing or performing an interdepartmental exchange for a new drug task force vehicle because the current vehicle is becoming recognizable in the community.
•Heard from Inman, who told council he’s received complaints of fast traffic and heavy semi-truck use at the intersection of county roads 200 West and 200 South. County engineer Dan Watson is going to explore solutions for the issue.
•Approved the annual salary reimbursement for the emergency management department, allowing for the county to be reimbursed for 50 percent of the department’s salaries.
•Heard from Ralph Frazee, representative of Jay County Regional Sewer District, who informed the council that the sewer district received its bill from the Indiana State Board of Accounts audit, which was performed last year and accounted for three years of activity. The bill from the board totals $19,700, which commissioners said the district cannot afford to pay. The council approved a motion for Frazee to petition the Portland City Council for $25,000 from the infrastructure fund.
“We’re trying to help the sewer district,” said Zimmerman. “I’d like to see the same cooperation from the city.”