August 28, 2018 at 4:45 p.m.
County to partner on project
County to partner on project
Jay County Commissioners agreed Monday to partner with the City of Portland, Jay County Fair Board and Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association on a project that could solve a longstanding problem on the engine association’s grounds and open up new camping sites on the north section of the fairgrounds.
Fair board member Brian Aker told commissioners that a lift station on the engine show grounds has been a perpetual headache. Its purpose is to move sewage from restrooms on the grounds through a city sewer on Morton Street that isn’t deep enough to provide sufficient “fall.”
“It’s been an ongoing problem for years,” he said.
The plan to fix the issue, said Aker, is to run a new sewer line east from the engine association grounds just north of Abromson Drive, the road that divides the original fairgrounds from the north 40 acres. That 1,200-foot sewer would connect with an existing sewer at the far east end of the fairgrounds that runs north to serve the industrial park, the county highway garage and the county retirement center.
That existing sewer on the east side of the fairgrounds has sufficient “fall” so that a lift station wouldn’t be needed.
Aker said the city has agreed to provide the sewer pipe and any stone that would be involved. However no action on the matter has yet been taken by the board of works or city council.
He asked that the county commit to provide five manholes for the new sewer line.
“They’re trying to get a partnership,” Aker added.
Tri-State would be expected to contribute an estimated $15,000 to $18,000 for excavation expenses, while the fair board would make use of the excavation to run electricity and water lines that would allow for full service hook-ups for campers. The existing north restroom facility would also be connected to the new sewer line.
Fair board member Brian Aker told commissioners that a lift station on the engine show grounds has been a perpetual headache. Its purpose is to move sewage from restrooms on the grounds through a city sewer on Morton Street that isn’t deep enough to provide sufficient “fall.”
“It’s been an ongoing problem for years,” he said.
The plan to fix the issue, said Aker, is to run a new sewer line east from the engine association grounds just north of Abromson Drive, the road that divides the original fairgrounds from the north 40 acres. That 1,200-foot sewer would connect with an existing sewer at the far east end of the fairgrounds that runs north to serve the industrial park, the county highway garage and the county retirement center.
That existing sewer on the east side of the fairgrounds has sufficient “fall” so that a lift station wouldn’t be needed.
Aker said the city has agreed to provide the sewer pipe and any stone that would be involved. However no action on the matter has yet been taken by the board of works or city council.
He asked that the county commit to provide five manholes for the new sewer line.
“They’re trying to get a partnership,” Aker added.
Tri-State would be expected to contribute an estimated $15,000 to $18,000 for excavation expenses, while the fair board would make use of the excavation to run electricity and water lines that would allow for full service hook-ups for campers. The existing north restroom facility would also be connected to the new sewer line.
“Down the road, it’s going to benefit the Jay County Fairgrounds,” said commissioner Mike Leonhard, speaking in favor of the project.
Commissioners agreed to spend up to $7,500 from economic development income tax revenues to help the project go forward.
Commissioners also asked county surveyor Brad Daniels to look into the possibility of leasing an excavator for 30 days to make sure that work on the Salamonie River channel in Portland is done this fall.
The job requires two excavators working together, and one of the county’s excavators was recently destroyed in what appears to have been an electrical fire.
“We’ve got to get the water away from downtown,” said commissioner Barry Hudson.
“And we have such a small window (of time),” added commissioner Chuck Huffman.
Commissioners also gave the green light to the purchase of a new Braun ambulance through HGAC, a Texas-based government procurement organization. Cost of the ambulance is $183,132, while buying it directly from a Braun dealer would have cost $189,089.
Gary Barnett of Jay Emergency Medical Service has noted that all of the other JEMS ambulances were manufactured by Braun, which is based in Van Wert, Ohio. That provides staff with a degree of familiarity with the equipment.
The new ambulance will take an estimated 240 days to build and will be paid for out of the county’s 2019 cumulative capital projects fund.
Commissioners worked line by line through their 2019 budget proposal, noting that just because funds are budgeted does not mean they will be spent. Several expenditures that fall into the “quality of life” category were moved to the economic development income tax (EDIT) budget and away from property taxes. Those included $2,000 for Jay County Historical Society, $1,500 for Museum of the Soldier, $14,000 for Arts in the Parks, $70,000 for John Jay Center for Learning, $2,500 for Jay County Chamber of Commerce, $56,000 for the Lifestream transportation system and $200,000 for Jay County Development Corporation.
Funds for paving will come from multiple sources as usual, with $100,000 earmarked from EDIT, $100,000 from capital projects and $200,000 from infrastructure revenues linked to the host fee for Jay County Landfill. Those are in addition to funds from the county wheel tax and the county’s share of state gasoline tax revenues.
“This is what we’ll take to the council,” said Huffman.
In other business, commissioners:
•Rejected a request by county highway superintendent Ken Wellman to re-classify one of his truck drivers as a foreman, allowing him to split the county’s roads into north and south districts. While Huffman was supportive of the idea, Leonhard was not and Hudson said he would defer to Leonhard’s judgment.
•Agreed to combine the Lupton Watershed into the Salamonie Watershed.
•Heard an update on the Upper Salamonie River Watershed project from Tim Kroeker and approved an application for a grant to continue its work on water quality in 2020.
•Expressed interest in a broadband readiness planning grant through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The grant would be a maximum of $50,000, and it is not clear if a local match would be required. Community developer Ami Huffman is pursuing the possibility. “I think we should go after it,” said Leonhard.
•Agreed to purchase five 50-foot fire hoses for the courthouse from Koorsen Fire and Security at a cost of $1,500.
•Learned a committee at JCDC will be reviewing six resumes of applicants for the position of executive director.
Commissioners agreed to spend up to $7,500 from economic development income tax revenues to help the project go forward.
Commissioners also asked county surveyor Brad Daniels to look into the possibility of leasing an excavator for 30 days to make sure that work on the Salamonie River channel in Portland is done this fall.
The job requires two excavators working together, and one of the county’s excavators was recently destroyed in what appears to have been an electrical fire.
“We’ve got to get the water away from downtown,” said commissioner Barry Hudson.
“And we have such a small window (of time),” added commissioner Chuck Huffman.
Commissioners also gave the green light to the purchase of a new Braun ambulance through HGAC, a Texas-based government procurement organization. Cost of the ambulance is $183,132, while buying it directly from a Braun dealer would have cost $189,089.
Gary Barnett of Jay Emergency Medical Service has noted that all of the other JEMS ambulances were manufactured by Braun, which is based in Van Wert, Ohio. That provides staff with a degree of familiarity with the equipment.
The new ambulance will take an estimated 240 days to build and will be paid for out of the county’s 2019 cumulative capital projects fund.
Commissioners worked line by line through their 2019 budget proposal, noting that just because funds are budgeted does not mean they will be spent. Several expenditures that fall into the “quality of life” category were moved to the economic development income tax (EDIT) budget and away from property taxes. Those included $2,000 for Jay County Historical Society, $1,500 for Museum of the Soldier, $14,000 for Arts in the Parks, $70,000 for John Jay Center for Learning, $2,500 for Jay County Chamber of Commerce, $56,000 for the Lifestream transportation system and $200,000 for Jay County Development Corporation.
Funds for paving will come from multiple sources as usual, with $100,000 earmarked from EDIT, $100,000 from capital projects and $200,000 from infrastructure revenues linked to the host fee for Jay County Landfill. Those are in addition to funds from the county wheel tax and the county’s share of state gasoline tax revenues.
“This is what we’ll take to the council,” said Huffman.
In other business, commissioners:
•Rejected a request by county highway superintendent Ken Wellman to re-classify one of his truck drivers as a foreman, allowing him to split the county’s roads into north and south districts. While Huffman was supportive of the idea, Leonhard was not and Hudson said he would defer to Leonhard’s judgment.
•Agreed to combine the Lupton Watershed into the Salamonie Watershed.
•Heard an update on the Upper Salamonie River Watershed project from Tim Kroeker and approved an application for a grant to continue its work on water quality in 2020.
•Expressed interest in a broadband readiness planning grant through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The grant would be a maximum of $50,000, and it is not clear if a local match would be required. Community developer Ami Huffman is pursuing the possibility. “I think we should go after it,” said Leonhard.
•Agreed to purchase five 50-foot fire hoses for the courthouse from Koorsen Fire and Security at a cost of $1,500.
•Learned a committee at JCDC will be reviewing six resumes of applicants for the position of executive director.
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