April 24, 2017 at 9:30 p.m.
Wind farm to move forward
Jay County Commissioners
Wind farm to move forward
Copyright 2017, The Commercial Review
All Rights Reserved
Work is expected to begin on the Bluff Point wind farm project within the next 10 days.
“They’ve submitted everything I’ve requested,” John Hemmelgarn, director of the Jay/Portland Building and Planning Office, told Jay County Commissioners on Monday. “The permit can be issued.”
Commissioners formally accepted bonds Monday from NextEra Energy Resources covering the cost of repairing county roads after construction is complete and decommissioning the wind farm at the end of its useful life. Commissioners also acknowledged receipt of a letter of credit from NextEra that can be drawn on if there are road repairs that need to be made on a more urgent basis.
“We’ve done everything along the way,” said commissioner Doug Inman.
Hemmelgarn said he expects Blattner Energy to begin working on cut-ins for roads to access the wind farm sites in early May. Work is also expected to begin about the same time on a maintenance building. Footings for the wind turbines are expected to be poured in June.
Rule 5 permits related to soil erosion and run-off during construction have been approved by Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District.
When completed, the wind farm will include 57 turbines, 43 of them in Jay County, generating about 120 megawatts of electricity.
Under an economic development agreement, NextEra will make four payments to the county of $249,000 earmarked for economic development. The first one is due the day concrete is poured for the first wind turbine foundation.
While that money will give a boost to the county’s coffers, commissioners learned Monday the county has about $369,000 sitting in a trustee account related to jail construction that can be put to use to reduce long-term debt.
Commissioner Chuck Huffman said those funds can be used to pre-pay part of the debt when the county refinances its most recent jail construction bonds.
Jason Semler of Umbaugh and Associates, the accounting firm that has been working with the county on the bond refinancing, discovered the funds, which may actually date to the original jail construction more than 20 years ago.
Huffman said using those funds improvesthe projected savings from refinancing to $799,896 over the life of the bond issue.
In other business, commissioners:
•Opened bids from five vendors for a new excavator for the surveyor’s ditch crew. Surveyor Brad Daniels took the bids under advisement and will return to a future commissioners’ meeting with a recommendation.
•Reviewed a letter from a county resident concerned about the impact of a planned 8,800 hog confined feeding operation between Knox Road and Indiana 1 south of road 100 South. “They do meet all the setbacks,” Hemmelgarn told commissioners. “It’s another unfortunate situation.”
Commissioner Mike Leonhard said he’d like to have the planning commission take another look at CAFO restrictions and limits. “I think it’s an issue we need to discuss,” said Leonhard.
•Met with Jessica Clayton of Platinum Benefits Consulting Group, the firm which acts as broker for the county’s health insurance coverage. The plan is currently fully insured, and the county has a premium refund agreement. “You guys are really in a good spot,” she said. “It’s the best of both worlds.”
•Said they would consider joining with the City of Portland on developing a countywide trails plan. Mayor Randy Geesaman said the plan is estimated to cost $52,000, and a grant of $20,000 has been received from the Indiana State Board of Health to cover a portion of the expense. Commissioners will discuss the matter further at their May 8 meeting.
•Approved purchasing new video security equipment for the county health department office at a cost of $517 from Secret Security of Portland.
•Approved an audit of JEMS accounts by the law firm of Hall Render at the recommendation of AccuMed, which has taken over the billing function.
•Heard Bill Bradley, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, say he has been in contact with two companies about filling the commercial gap that will be left with the closing of the Portland Marsh store on May 14.
•Asked emergency management director Ralph Frazee to schedule an executive session on courthouse security with Jay Circuit Court Judge Brian Hutchison, Jay Superior Court Judge Max Ludy, Sheriff Dwane Ford,and the commissioners. Questions of courthouse security have been discussed by commissioners for at least a decade, but few changes have been made because of the costs involved. “It’s an ugly expense,” said Frazee.
“But it’s an insurance policy too,” said Inman.
All Rights Reserved
Work is expected to begin on the Bluff Point wind farm project within the next 10 days.
“They’ve submitted everything I’ve requested,” John Hemmelgarn, director of the Jay/Portland Building and Planning Office, told Jay County Commissioners on Monday. “The permit can be issued.”
Commissioners formally accepted bonds Monday from NextEra Energy Resources covering the cost of repairing county roads after construction is complete and decommissioning the wind farm at the end of its useful life. Commissioners also acknowledged receipt of a letter of credit from NextEra that can be drawn on if there are road repairs that need to be made on a more urgent basis.
“We’ve done everything along the way,” said commissioner Doug Inman.
Hemmelgarn said he expects Blattner Energy to begin working on cut-ins for roads to access the wind farm sites in early May. Work is also expected to begin about the same time on a maintenance building. Footings for the wind turbines are expected to be poured in June.
Rule 5 permits related to soil erosion and run-off during construction have been approved by Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District.
When completed, the wind farm will include 57 turbines, 43 of them in Jay County, generating about 120 megawatts of electricity.
Under an economic development agreement, NextEra will make four payments to the county of $249,000 earmarked for economic development. The first one is due the day concrete is poured for the first wind turbine foundation.
While that money will give a boost to the county’s coffers, commissioners learned Monday the county has about $369,000 sitting in a trustee account related to jail construction that can be put to use to reduce long-term debt.
Commissioner Chuck Huffman said those funds can be used to pre-pay part of the debt when the county refinances its most recent jail construction bonds.
Jason Semler of Umbaugh and Associates, the accounting firm that has been working with the county on the bond refinancing, discovered the funds, which may actually date to the original jail construction more than 20 years ago.
Huffman said using those funds improvesthe projected savings from refinancing to $799,896 over the life of the bond issue.
In other business, commissioners:
•Opened bids from five vendors for a new excavator for the surveyor’s ditch crew. Surveyor Brad Daniels took the bids under advisement and will return to a future commissioners’ meeting with a recommendation.
•Reviewed a letter from a county resident concerned about the impact of a planned 8,800 hog confined feeding operation between Knox Road and Indiana 1 south of road 100 South. “They do meet all the setbacks,” Hemmelgarn told commissioners. “It’s another unfortunate situation.”
Commissioner Mike Leonhard said he’d like to have the planning commission take another look at CAFO restrictions and limits. “I think it’s an issue we need to discuss,” said Leonhard.
•Met with Jessica Clayton of Platinum Benefits Consulting Group, the firm which acts as broker for the county’s health insurance coverage. The plan is currently fully insured, and the county has a premium refund agreement. “You guys are really in a good spot,” she said. “It’s the best of both worlds.”
•Said they would consider joining with the City of Portland on developing a countywide trails plan. Mayor Randy Geesaman said the plan is estimated to cost $52,000, and a grant of $20,000 has been received from the Indiana State Board of Health to cover a portion of the expense. Commissioners will discuss the matter further at their May 8 meeting.
•Approved purchasing new video security equipment for the county health department office at a cost of $517 from Secret Security of Portland.
•Approved an audit of JEMS accounts by the law firm of Hall Render at the recommendation of AccuMed, which has taken over the billing function.
•Heard Bill Bradley, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, say he has been in contact with two companies about filling the commercial gap that will be left with the closing of the Portland Marsh store on May 14.
•Asked emergency management director Ralph Frazee to schedule an executive session on courthouse security with Jay Circuit Court Judge Brian Hutchison, Jay Superior Court Judge Max Ludy, Sheriff Dwane Ford,and the commissioners. Questions of courthouse security have been discussed by commissioners for at least a decade, but few changes have been made because of the costs involved. “It’s an ugly expense,” said Frazee.
“But it’s an insurance policy too,” said Inman.
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