Warning signs to be added

An intersection that was the scene of a fatal traffic accident in December won’t be converted to a four-way stop.

County engineer Dan Watson told Jay County Commissioners on Monday that while additional warning signs will be placed near the intersection, Boundary Pike and county road 300 South will remain a two-way stop.

“We’re not looking at anything as drastic as a four-way stop,” Watson said. Instead, signs warning of truck traffic will be added and brush will be cleared away to improve visibility at the intersection.

“The stop sign is visible,” Watson said. “There’s even a ‘stop ahead’ sign.”

But, he added, “If people are gonna run a stop sign …”

“They’re gonna run it,” said commissioner Mike Leonhard, finishing Watson’s sentence.

Watson and commissioners expressed appreciation that the Indiana Department of Transportation has reversed its earlier decision to re-pave U.S. 27 north from Portland to Bryant with concrete and will re-pave with asphalt as well. Had the project gone forward with concrete, the highway would have been closed for months.

“It was a group effort,” commissioner Doug Inman said of getting INDOT to reconsider its plans. “I’m thankful it was done so quickly.”

He specifically thanked State Rep. Greg Beumer and State Sen. Travis Holdman for their work in persuading INDOT to reconsider.

Commissioners learned from Sheriff Dwane Ford that he had decided to purchase three new vehicles for his department from Fincannon Ford of Hartford City.

After review and clarification of quotes on the three vehicles, Fincannon had the low local price of $72,730 after trade-ins. Fuqua Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep of Dunkirk came in at $73,264 after trade-ins, Moser Motors of Berne came in at $77,648 after trade-ins.

“They’re all right there in the ballpark,” said Ford. Other quotes were received from dealers in southern Indiana.

The sheriff said he favored purchasing Ford vehicles to keep the county sheriff’s fleet consistent with one manufacturer. Two vehicles are being traded in, and the police lights and specialty items from those will be installed on two of the new vehicles.

Jay Emergency Medical Service director Eric Moore said he hopes to bring quotes on new cardiac monitors to the commissioners at their Feb. 6 meeting. He also noted the Jay County Council will tour the service’s building during its Feb. 8 meeting to get a better understanding of the space constraints.

In other business, commissioners:

•Approved a contract with Bill and Kathy Fields for animal control services in the county at a cost of $43,000.

•Heard a suggestion from Pat Clevenger that two part-time positions be added to help with staffing at the Jay County Retirement Center. Inman noted that there had been an increase in residents.

•Agreed to contact community developer Ami Huffman about applying for a grant from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority for an elevator at the retirement center.

•Appointed Inman to the Economic Growth Region 6 Chief Local Elected Officials Council.

•Decided to review workers’ compensation, property and casualty insurance in about two years, rather than going back to the marketplace each year.

•Approved the county’s investment policy as presented by treasurer Paula Miller. The policy is unchanged from past years and has already been approved by county council.

•Appointed Trent Paxson and Diane Smith to Jay County Board of Health.

•Appointed Pam Robbins to a four-year term on the board of Dunkirk Public Library.

•Decided to begin meeting with department heads on a regular basis in February. Some of those will be on a monthly basis, some every other month and some twice a year. Commissioner Chuck Huffman said he’d also like to have regular meetings with courthouse elected officials. But Inman noted, “We can request (that). We can’t mandate.”