Manure spill now cleaned

A manure spill reported Oct. 3 has been fully cleaned up, Jay County Emergency Management Agency director Ralph Frazee said Monday morning.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management said Friday that any contamination remaining in McLaughlin Creek was within the allowed limits, Frazee told Jay County Commissioners during their meeting.
The spill in the area of county roads 200 South and 600 East originated from a broken tile connected to a manure lagoon at Siefring Farms.
A spill reported Aug. 23 in Walling Creek near county roads 400 North and 500 West has been cleaned up as well as possible, Frazee said, but could use some rain to finish the job.
“There’s about 3 miles of ditch that have residue in it, but they can’t get it out,” Frazee said.
That spill likely resulted from manure being applied too close to the creek, Frazee said.
In other business, commissioners Faron Parr, Jim Zimmerman and Doug Inman:
•Also heard from Frazee that the county should receive checks soon for two 2014 grants totaling about $26,900. The county spent the money up front, knowing it would be reimbursed.
The State Homeland Security Preparedness grant and the Emergency Management Performance grant were used for communication equipment, including upgrades to the amateur radio network and WiFi equipment in sheriff’s office patrol cars. A grain bin rescue tube was also purchased.
•Were reminded by Sheriff Dwane Ford that representatives from Adams, Blackford, Jay and Wells counties will meet at 6 p.m. today in the courthouse auditorium to discuss jointly purchasing dispatch equipment.
•Appointed Pamela Robbins to finish Andrea Ritter’s four-year term on Dunkirk Library Board. The term ends June 30.