June 27, 2017 at 5:20 p.m.
County to seek grant $
County to seek grant $
Two projects targeting Community Crossings dollars from the Indiana Department of Transportation won backing Monday from Jay County Commissioners.
INDOT is offering a 75-25 split on the “eligible costs” of road and street projects under the current state budget.
“It’s a rare opportunity,” said county engineer Dan Watson.
One of the projects, proposed by Jay County Development Corporation, would create two new roads into Portland Industrial Park for access to a number of new marketable sites.
The other, proposed by Watson, would involve major rebuilding of Boundary Pike from the Portland city limits south to county road 300 East and of Mount Pleasant Road from county road 200 South to New Mount Pleasant.
“Those two are rural collectors,” said Watson.
“All perimeter sites are taken at the industrial park,” said JCDC executive director Bill Bradley. “The desire, obviously, is to utilize the land that we own.”
One of the new roads would extend Performance Drive near Moser Engineering to the north, creating four new sites of about 10 acres each and ending in a cul-de-sac.
The other would go west from county road 100 East, then curve to the north, opening up new sites ranging from about 4 to 7 acres.
Total cost for the industrial park project would be about $1.3 million, with the state’s share just short of $1 million and the local share $333,333. That local amount would be split evenly between the city of Portland and the county.
“The proposal is to take the (county’s share of the cost) from the wind farm,” said Bradley.
Under the county’s agreement with NextEra Energy Resources, the county will receive a total of $1 million in equal payments over four years for hosting the wind farm, with those funds designated for economic development.
“This is what the money’s for,” said commissioner Barry Hudson in support of the project. “This is extremely important … You have to be prepared.”
Bradley stressed that industries looking for new locations have put a premium on sites that are ready to go.
“Speed is essential,” he said.
Commissioners unanimously agreed to commit the nearly $170,000 from wind farm revenues so a Community Crossings grant application can be submitted to INDOT by the July 14 deadline.
Commissioners were also unanimous in support of the Boundary Pike and Mount Pleasant Road projects. The Boundary Pike project is estimated at $722,000, with $541,500 from INDOT and $180,500 in local match. The Mount Pleasant Road project is estimated at $584,600, with $438,450 from INDOT and $146,150 in local match.
The county’s share of the costs would come from local income tax funds that are designated for road construction.
Those two rural projects may have a somewhat greater chance for approval because they involve existing roads rather than new construction and that’s in line with current INDOT priorities, Watson noted.
Meanwhile, Jay County community developer Ami Huffman told commissioners Redkey will also be seeking a Community Crossings grant to help repair streets after its current sewer separation project is completed.
Bradley outlined a number of other economic development uses for the wind farm’s contractual revenue. Those included a new “spec” building for Portland Industrial Park, acquisition of land to expand Dunkirk Industrial Park and acquisition of additional land in Redkey for industrial sites.
“That’s just my thoughts at this point,” he said.
Others also have an eye on the wind farm revenues.
Longtime wind farm advocate Bob Lyons, who has leased land to NextEra, returned to the commissioners again Monday to urge that funds be set aside to assure that when the project is completed there are no road or drainage headaches left behind.
“I’m here to ask that you put in escrow some money to do projects related to the wind farm,” said Lyons. “Little things that come up. … I’m not asking for the whole thing.”
The county is expecting to receive its first payment from NextEra on Wednesday. Concrete has been poured for the foundation of the first wind turbine along county road 250 West between 800 and 900 South. Each wind turbine foundation requires 50 truckloads of concrete.
Blattner Energy, the Minnesota firm constructing the wind farm, is targeting a Thanksgiving completion date. But Watson said it would be working on repairing roads into next spring or summer, depending upon weather.
“I have every assurance from NextEra that the roads will be taken care of,” said Watson.
NextEra’s agreement with the county calls for roads to be restored to “as good or better” condition.
When completed, the wind farm will include 57 turbines, 43 of them in Jay County and the remainder in northern Randolph County. Commissioners said they’d be re-visiting the wind farm revenue question in the weeks and months ahead.
“I think it would be good to establish a framework on how it can be spent,” said commissioner Chuck Huffman.
“You don’t want to just put it in the general fund,” said commissioner Mike Leonhard, adding that he’d like to take a wait-and-see approach.
“I think we have to re-think all this stuff,” said Hudson. “There’s no hurry. Let’s continue the discussion.”
Meanwhile, it’s possible another wind farm could be on the horizon at some time in the county’s future.
Jay/Portland Building and Planning director John Hemmelgarn told commissioners three data-gathering towers have been erected by a Colorado company “prospecting” for potential wind farm sites.
In other business, commissioners:
•Asked Sheriff Dwane Ford to get a more detailed breakdown on $29,350 in HVAC repairs at Jay County Jail to determine what may or may not be covered by a warranty.
•Approved an adjustment in manpower at the county probation office at the recommendation of Jay Circuit Court Judge Brian Hutchison and Jay Superior Court Judge Max Ludy. Currently, the office has two probation officers and a part-time secretary. With the secretary’s retirement, the proposal is to add a third probation officer and have the officers share the clerical duties. Because the change will involve an additional appropriation, it still must be approved by Jay County Council.
•Approved investing $35,675 for a new scanner for recorder’s office at the recommendation of county recorder Betty St. Myers.
INDOT is offering a 75-25 split on the “eligible costs” of road and street projects under the current state budget.
“It’s a rare opportunity,” said county engineer Dan Watson.
One of the projects, proposed by Jay County Development Corporation, would create two new roads into Portland Industrial Park for access to a number of new marketable sites.
The other, proposed by Watson, would involve major rebuilding of Boundary Pike from the Portland city limits south to county road 300 East and of Mount Pleasant Road from county road 200 South to New Mount Pleasant.
“Those two are rural collectors,” said Watson.
“All perimeter sites are taken at the industrial park,” said JCDC executive director Bill Bradley. “The desire, obviously, is to utilize the land that we own.”
One of the new roads would extend Performance Drive near Moser Engineering to the north, creating four new sites of about 10 acres each and ending in a cul-de-sac.
The other would go west from county road 100 East, then curve to the north, opening up new sites ranging from about 4 to 7 acres.
Total cost for the industrial park project would be about $1.3 million, with the state’s share just short of $1 million and the local share $333,333. That local amount would be split evenly between the city of Portland and the county.
“The proposal is to take the (county’s share of the cost) from the wind farm,” said Bradley.
Under the county’s agreement with NextEra Energy Resources, the county will receive a total of $1 million in equal payments over four years for hosting the wind farm, with those funds designated for economic development.
“This is what the money’s for,” said commissioner Barry Hudson in support of the project. “This is extremely important … You have to be prepared.”
Bradley stressed that industries looking for new locations have put a premium on sites that are ready to go.
“Speed is essential,” he said.
Commissioners unanimously agreed to commit the nearly $170,000 from wind farm revenues so a Community Crossings grant application can be submitted to INDOT by the July 14 deadline.
Commissioners were also unanimous in support of the Boundary Pike and Mount Pleasant Road projects. The Boundary Pike project is estimated at $722,000, with $541,500 from INDOT and $180,500 in local match. The Mount Pleasant Road project is estimated at $584,600, with $438,450 from INDOT and $146,150 in local match.
The county’s share of the costs would come from local income tax funds that are designated for road construction.
Those two rural projects may have a somewhat greater chance for approval because they involve existing roads rather than new construction and that’s in line with current INDOT priorities, Watson noted.
Meanwhile, Jay County community developer Ami Huffman told commissioners Redkey will also be seeking a Community Crossings grant to help repair streets after its current sewer separation project is completed.
Bradley outlined a number of other economic development uses for the wind farm’s contractual revenue. Those included a new “spec” building for Portland Industrial Park, acquisition of land to expand Dunkirk Industrial Park and acquisition of additional land in Redkey for industrial sites.
“That’s just my thoughts at this point,” he said.
Others also have an eye on the wind farm revenues.
Longtime wind farm advocate Bob Lyons, who has leased land to NextEra, returned to the commissioners again Monday to urge that funds be set aside to assure that when the project is completed there are no road or drainage headaches left behind.
“I’m here to ask that you put in escrow some money to do projects related to the wind farm,” said Lyons. “Little things that come up. … I’m not asking for the whole thing.”
The county is expecting to receive its first payment from NextEra on Wednesday. Concrete has been poured for the foundation of the first wind turbine along county road 250 West between 800 and 900 South. Each wind turbine foundation requires 50 truckloads of concrete.
Blattner Energy, the Minnesota firm constructing the wind farm, is targeting a Thanksgiving completion date. But Watson said it would be working on repairing roads into next spring or summer, depending upon weather.
“I have every assurance from NextEra that the roads will be taken care of,” said Watson.
NextEra’s agreement with the county calls for roads to be restored to “as good or better” condition.
When completed, the wind farm will include 57 turbines, 43 of them in Jay County and the remainder in northern Randolph County. Commissioners said they’d be re-visiting the wind farm revenue question in the weeks and months ahead.
“I think it would be good to establish a framework on how it can be spent,” said commissioner Chuck Huffman.
“You don’t want to just put it in the general fund,” said commissioner Mike Leonhard, adding that he’d like to take a wait-and-see approach.
“I think we have to re-think all this stuff,” said Hudson. “There’s no hurry. Let’s continue the discussion.”
Meanwhile, it’s possible another wind farm could be on the horizon at some time in the county’s future.
Jay/Portland Building and Planning director John Hemmelgarn told commissioners three data-gathering towers have been erected by a Colorado company “prospecting” for potential wind farm sites.
In other business, commissioners:
•Asked Sheriff Dwane Ford to get a more detailed breakdown on $29,350 in HVAC repairs at Jay County Jail to determine what may or may not be covered by a warranty.
•Approved an adjustment in manpower at the county probation office at the recommendation of Jay Circuit Court Judge Brian Hutchison and Jay Superior Court Judge Max Ludy. Currently, the office has two probation officers and a part-time secretary. With the secretary’s retirement, the proposal is to add a third probation officer and have the officers share the clerical duties. Because the change will involve an additional appropriation, it still must be approved by Jay County Council.
•Approved investing $35,675 for a new scanner for recorder’s office at the recommendation of county recorder Betty St. Myers.
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