March 28, 2017 at 8:50 p.m.
Ongoing projects
County is focused on wind, roads, funding and flooding
Ongoing projects
Copyright 2017, The Commercial Review
All Rights Reserved
Jay County is focused on several ongoing issues and projects, including one that will finally come to fruition this year after more than a decade of planning.
Doug Inman and Jeanne Houchins, presidents of Jay County Commissioners and Jay County Council respectively, touched on Bluff Point Wind Energy Center, road issues, budgets and flooding Tuesday during their State of the County Address as part of the Jay County Chamber of Commerce networking luncheon at Jay County Hospital.
The biggest local project this year is also the largest ever undertaken in the county, with construction on the $200-million Bluff Point Wind Energy Center slated to begin in May and be complete by the end of 2017. About $145 million of that investment will be in southern Jay County, where the landscape will be dotted with 43 wind turbines. (The remaining turbines will be in northern Randolph County.)
The project, being developed by NextEra Resources and constructed by Blattner Energy, will generate 250 construction jobs and six to 10 full-time employees long term.
Inman said he understands that not everyone in the county is excited about the wind farm, but touted the financial impact the project will have on the county. It will be generating $787,000 annually in property taxes by the time its 10-year tax abatement rolls off.
“The commissioners believe this is a very good thing for the community,” he said, with Houchins later adding that the county is getting nearly $1 million in economic development funds through its deal with NextEra. “It’s going to bring a lot of property tax revenue in. And we are excited about this project beginning after a long time coming.”
He noted that a decommissioning agreement requires NextEra, which operates more than 110 wind farms as the nation’s leading wind energy producer, to remove all of the turbines when the facility is no longer operational.
Highlighting the importance of House Bill 1002 that is currently in front of the Indiana General Assembly to address road funding issues throughout the state, Inman encouraged county residents to contact Rep. Greg Beumer (R-Modoc) and Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle) supporting the measure. If passed, it would utilize a gas tax increase, to be indexed to inflation, and registration fees to generate more funding for road repairs.
“Please express to them the importance of getting this through this year through this budget because a long-term permanent solution to road funding in the State of Indiana, we’ve desperately needed that for many years,” he said. “We receive money annually. It’s never enough to deal with all the roads we have to maintain.”
The bulk of Houchins’ comments revolved around money, specifically the county budget.
She told those in attendance that Jay County’s year-end balance in the general fund increased to $902,590 in 2016 from $331,000 a year earlier. She credited that improvement both to the state allowing county adjusted gross income tax to be shifted back into the general fund and to steps taken by county officials to work with financial consultant Greg Guerrettaz. County council plans to utilize Guerrettaz’s services again this year, though not as much as it did in 2016, in an effort to continue to improve the budget situation. She noted goals of getting the year-end balance back above the $1 million mark and working to replenish the rainy day fund.
Houchins also pointed out that the county is updating its job descriptions and salary scale in an effort to make sure employees are fairly compensated.
“This year we really hope that we can give our employees a raise,” she said. “We had a two-year wage freeze. They’ve all been very patient with us.”
Inman also updated on flood mitigation efforts as the county works with the City of Portland to try to find ways to keep water out of the downtown area. A severe flood resulted in more than $1 million of damage in Portland in 2011 and the downtown area was under water three times in a span of just over a month during the summer of 2015. There were several other less severe high-water incidents in between.
Engineering firm Butler, Fairman and Seufert has recommended a dry retention pond north of the city, and the owner of the property has agreed to allow boring for soil testing. If the area is deemed viable, the next step will be negotiating to buy the land.
“I can’t emphasize enough that this would remediate the flooding problem. There is no long-term solution to the flooding problem in downtown Portland,” Inman said, noting that there isn’t much anyone can do when more than 20 inches of rain in less than six weeks as occurred two years ago. “But this is something that we’re trying to proactively work with the city … We’re all trying to work together because the last thing this community needs is for the downtown merchants to be affected once again by the flooding issue.”
Houchins also mentioned landfill funds that have helped with a variety of local projects over the years and noted the importance of the county’s A-plus financial rating.
“I think overall, all of us should be proud of Jay County,” she said. “With the ups and downs that we’ve had over the years … I think we’ve done real well. … Jay County is a great county to live in.”
All Rights Reserved
Jay County is focused on several ongoing issues and projects, including one that will finally come to fruition this year after more than a decade of planning.
Doug Inman and Jeanne Houchins, presidents of Jay County Commissioners and Jay County Council respectively, touched on Bluff Point Wind Energy Center, road issues, budgets and flooding Tuesday during their State of the County Address as part of the Jay County Chamber of Commerce networking luncheon at Jay County Hospital.
The biggest local project this year is also the largest ever undertaken in the county, with construction on the $200-million Bluff Point Wind Energy Center slated to begin in May and be complete by the end of 2017. About $145 million of that investment will be in southern Jay County, where the landscape will be dotted with 43 wind turbines. (The remaining turbines will be in northern Randolph County.)
The project, being developed by NextEra Resources and constructed by Blattner Energy, will generate 250 construction jobs and six to 10 full-time employees long term.
Inman said he understands that not everyone in the county is excited about the wind farm, but touted the financial impact the project will have on the county. It will be generating $787,000 annually in property taxes by the time its 10-year tax abatement rolls off.
“The commissioners believe this is a very good thing for the community,” he said, with Houchins later adding that the county is getting nearly $1 million in economic development funds through its deal with NextEra. “It’s going to bring a lot of property tax revenue in. And we are excited about this project beginning after a long time coming.”
He noted that a decommissioning agreement requires NextEra, which operates more than 110 wind farms as the nation’s leading wind energy producer, to remove all of the turbines when the facility is no longer operational.
Highlighting the importance of House Bill 1002 that is currently in front of the Indiana General Assembly to address road funding issues throughout the state, Inman encouraged county residents to contact Rep. Greg Beumer (R-Modoc) and Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle) supporting the measure. If passed, it would utilize a gas tax increase, to be indexed to inflation, and registration fees to generate more funding for road repairs.
“Please express to them the importance of getting this through this year through this budget because a long-term permanent solution to road funding in the State of Indiana, we’ve desperately needed that for many years,” he said. “We receive money annually. It’s never enough to deal with all the roads we have to maintain.”
The bulk of Houchins’ comments revolved around money, specifically the county budget.
She told those in attendance that Jay County’s year-end balance in the general fund increased to $902,590 in 2016 from $331,000 a year earlier. She credited that improvement both to the state allowing county adjusted gross income tax to be shifted back into the general fund and to steps taken by county officials to work with financial consultant Greg Guerrettaz. County council plans to utilize Guerrettaz’s services again this year, though not as much as it did in 2016, in an effort to continue to improve the budget situation. She noted goals of getting the year-end balance back above the $1 million mark and working to replenish the rainy day fund.
Houchins also pointed out that the county is updating its job descriptions and salary scale in an effort to make sure employees are fairly compensated.
“This year we really hope that we can give our employees a raise,” she said. “We had a two-year wage freeze. They’ve all been very patient with us.”
Inman also updated on flood mitigation efforts as the county works with the City of Portland to try to find ways to keep water out of the downtown area. A severe flood resulted in more than $1 million of damage in Portland in 2011 and the downtown area was under water three times in a span of just over a month during the summer of 2015. There were several other less severe high-water incidents in between.
Engineering firm Butler, Fairman and Seufert has recommended a dry retention pond north of the city, and the owner of the property has agreed to allow boring for soil testing. If the area is deemed viable, the next step will be negotiating to buy the land.
“I can’t emphasize enough that this would remediate the flooding problem. There is no long-term solution to the flooding problem in downtown Portland,” Inman said, noting that there isn’t much anyone can do when more than 20 inches of rain in less than six weeks as occurred two years ago. “But this is something that we’re trying to proactively work with the city … We’re all trying to work together because the last thing this community needs is for the downtown merchants to be affected once again by the flooding issue.”
Houchins also mentioned landfill funds that have helped with a variety of local projects over the years and noted the importance of the county’s A-plus financial rating.
“I think overall, all of us should be proud of Jay County,” she said. “With the ups and downs that we’ve had over the years … I think we’ve done real well. … Jay County is a great county to live in.”
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