April 24, 2018 at 4:47 p.m.
Vote split on $ for sewer district
Vote split on $ for sewer district
The Jay County Regional Sewer District will get another $25,000 band-aid this summer while it attempts to sort out its ongoing financial problems.
But the assistance came on a split vote Monday by Jay County Commissioners.
“I’ve got a septic tank,” said commissioner Mike Leonhard. “What are you going to do if my septic tank fails? You gonna bail me out?”
The district has been plagued by revenue shortfalls at the same time that the households it serves have seen dramatically higher bills.
“This is a band-aid,” admitted county council president Jeanne Houchins, who has been working with the district in an effort to get it on firm financial footing.
The $25,000 line of credit approved Monday by commissioners Chuck Huffman and Barry Hudson will come from the county’s infrastructure fund, the revenues of which come from tipping fees at Jay County Landfill.
The county has previously provided a $25,000 loan, which has not yet been repaid, and a $25,000 grant.
Houchins said about $7,000 is needed to help the district with its next bond payment, and the balance will go toward maintenance work on the system’s “risers” and pumps.
She also said she hopes to resolve questions about a surge in volume reported by Dunkirk’s wastewater treatment plant. Miller’s Merry Manor in rural Dunkirk is the largest user in the district, and it may be necessary to install a meter on the connection. That would require a change in the ordinance that established the district.
But the assistance came on a split vote Monday by Jay County Commissioners.
“I’ve got a septic tank,” said commissioner Mike Leonhard. “What are you going to do if my septic tank fails? You gonna bail me out?”
The district has been plagued by revenue shortfalls at the same time that the households it serves have seen dramatically higher bills.
“This is a band-aid,” admitted county council president Jeanne Houchins, who has been working with the district in an effort to get it on firm financial footing.
The $25,000 line of credit approved Monday by commissioners Chuck Huffman and Barry Hudson will come from the county’s infrastructure fund, the revenues of which come from tipping fees at Jay County Landfill.
The county has previously provided a $25,000 loan, which has not yet been repaid, and a $25,000 grant.
Houchins said about $7,000 is needed to help the district with its next bond payment, and the balance will go toward maintenance work on the system’s “risers” and pumps.
She also said she hopes to resolve questions about a surge in volume reported by Dunkirk’s wastewater treatment plant. Miller’s Merry Manor in rural Dunkirk is the largest user in the district, and it may be necessary to install a meter on the connection. That would require a change in the ordinance that established the district.
While commissioners took no action to put the issue before the planning commission, Hinkle acknowledged that opponents could do that directly.
“It sounds like we can go to the planning commission,” said Garringer.
Birsfield challenged commissioners over whether they had “reached out” to the public to hear their concerns.
“Yes,” responded commissioner Barry Hudson. “I physically went out and asked people.”
Among those in opposition was Virginia Burkey, who lives on county road 250 West near one of the first wind turbines erected by NextEra Energy as part of the Bluff Point project.
“We’ve had noise. We’ve had flicker. We’ve had shadow,” she said.
Before the Scout Clean Energy project could go forward, the company would first have to submit a development plan to Jay/Portland Building and Planning. That plan would be reviewed by building inspector John Hemmelgarn to make sure it complies with the county’s zoning ordinance.
The commissioners would then review agreements between the county and Scout Energy spelling out requirements for economic development funding, road use and repair and decommissioning the wind farm at the end of its useful life.
There would have to also be action by Jay County Council on any tax abatement sought by the company. A public hearing on any tax abatement is expected at the council’s May 9 meeting.
If all those are approved, the matter would then be submitted for approval by the planning commission and applications would be made for building permits.
County engineer Dan Watson told commissioners that the last bits of paving related to construction of Bluff Point Wind Energy Center began Friday.
“They’ll all be the same size or wider,” he said of the roads involved. “They’re working from the south, going north.”
Watson said that all issues related to television reception near the wind farm appear to have been addressed.
“I have not heard any complaints,” he said.
“It sounds like we can go to the planning commission,” said Garringer.
Birsfield challenged commissioners over whether they had “reached out” to the public to hear their concerns.
“Yes,” responded commissioner Barry Hudson. “I physically went out and asked people.”
Among those in opposition was Virginia Burkey, who lives on county road 250 West near one of the first wind turbines erected by NextEra Energy as part of the Bluff Point project.
“We’ve had noise. We’ve had flicker. We’ve had shadow,” she said.
Before the Scout Clean Energy project could go forward, the company would first have to submit a development plan to Jay/Portland Building and Planning. That plan would be reviewed by building inspector John Hemmelgarn to make sure it complies with the county’s zoning ordinance.
The commissioners would then review agreements between the county and Scout Energy spelling out requirements for economic development funding, road use and repair and decommissioning the wind farm at the end of its useful life.
There would have to also be action by Jay County Council on any tax abatement sought by the company. A public hearing on any tax abatement is expected at the council’s May 9 meeting.
If all those are approved, the matter would then be submitted for approval by the planning commission and applications would be made for building permits.
County engineer Dan Watson told commissioners that the last bits of paving related to construction of Bluff Point Wind Energy Center began Friday.
“They’ll all be the same size or wider,” he said of the roads involved. “They’re working from the south, going north.”
Watson said that all issues related to television reception near the wind farm appear to have been addressed.
“I have not heard any complaints,” he said.
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