February 13, 2018 at 6:54 p.m.
Time to put the cattle out to pasture?
Viability of farm at retirement center questioned
Time to put the cattle out to pasture?
Is it time for Jay County Retirement Center to get out of the cattle business?
Or does it still make sense financially and as an activity for the center’s residents?
Jay is one of only 12 counties in Indiana that still operate what was once known as “the county home.”
“And we are an oddity because we have cows and chickens,” auditor Anna Culy told Jay County Commissioners on Monday. “We’re the only one that still has a farm.”
Currently, the retirement center has a herd of 15 cattle. Helping to tend to the cattle and a handful of chickens had been viewed as a positive for the center’s residents, but after a few minor injuries residents aren’t so interested.
Without that assistance, commissioners have been asked to create an additional part-time position at the center to help with the cattle and grounds-keeping duties.
“I’d be curious to see a cost analysis on the cattle,” said commissioner Chuck Huffman. “I’m not in favor of (adding a part-time employee) unless it makes sense.”
The county saves on the cost of beef by occasionally slaughtering a few animals, but Huffman noted that there are other costs to consider, such as feed and land that could otherwise be tilled for crops.
While numbers are being put together, Huffman and commissioner Mike Leonhard, with commissioner Barry Hudson absent, agreed to set the process in motion to create the part-time position.
Or does it still make sense financially and as an activity for the center’s residents?
Jay is one of only 12 counties in Indiana that still operate what was once known as “the county home.”
“And we are an oddity because we have cows and chickens,” auditor Anna Culy told Jay County Commissioners on Monday. “We’re the only one that still has a farm.”
Currently, the retirement center has a herd of 15 cattle. Helping to tend to the cattle and a handful of chickens had been viewed as a positive for the center’s residents, but after a few minor injuries residents aren’t so interested.
Without that assistance, commissioners have been asked to create an additional part-time position at the center to help with the cattle and grounds-keeping duties.
“I’d be curious to see a cost analysis on the cattle,” said commissioner Chuck Huffman. “I’m not in favor of (adding a part-time employee) unless it makes sense.”
The county saves on the cost of beef by occasionally slaughtering a few animals, but Huffman noted that there are other costs to consider, such as feed and land that could otherwise be tilled for crops.
While numbers are being put together, Huffman and commissioner Mike Leonhard, with commissioner Barry Hudson absent, agreed to set the process in motion to create the part-time position.
That process will involve county council and the county’s personnel committee and then will return to the commissioners for a final decision.
Commissioners continued to hear upbeat news out of Jay Emergency Medical Service, with shift supervisors John McFarland, Gary Barnett and Emily Anderson making their monthly report.
“Things have been trending steadily up,” said Barnett.
McFarland agreed.
“Things have been going really well,” he said. “There’s been no glitches, no problems.”
Ambulance runs for opioid overdoses continue to be down, and the Indiana State Board of Health is providing 50 free doses of NARCAN (nalaxone) to help address the problem. McFarland said the doses will save JEMS about $2,000 over the course of a year.
Indiana State Department of Health awarded a total of $127,000 in nalaxone kits to 95 agencies in 34 counties, predominantly targeting rural areas. Adams and Randolph counties also received nalaxone kits.
John Moore, who has been active in the move to develop bike and pedestrian trails in the county, told commissioners there would be a pair of upcoming meetings to gain public input while a master plan is being put together.
On Thursday at 5:30 p.m. prior to the Redkey Town Council meeting, a session will be held at Redkey Park Cabin.
Then, on Feb. 20, a session for public input will be held at 6 p.m. at Jay Community Center in Portland.
Similar meetings have already been conducted in Dunkirk and Bryant, and meetings in Salamonia and Pennville are in the planning stages.
In the meantime, said Moore, a survey is being circulated at city and town offices and online. The survey, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete, can be found at bit.ly/JCtrailsurvey.
Moore said survey results will be compiled over the next five weeks. He expects a draft version of the plan to be available by April with adoption by local governments in June.
In other business, commissioners:
•Approved the purchase of a snowplow for the county highway department’s newest truck at a cost of $9,302 from Hoosier Equipment, which had the low price quote.
•Heard a complaint that the recycling bin at the Bryant Community Center is often overflowing and needs to be emptied more frequently than once a month. Commissioners said they would take the matter to the Jay County Solid Waste Management District board.
•Heard county engineer Dan Watson say most problems with television reception related to Bluff Point Wind Energy Center have apparently been resolved by NextEra. “They responded to 29 different complaints,” he said. “Most of the people were satisfied with the progress that was made. … There are still a few people that are upset.”
•Appointed Terry Hanks to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a one-year term, Jim Brunner to the Community and Family Services board for a one-year term, Rex Pinkerton to the Jay County Cemetery Commission for a five-year term, Ralph Frazee to the Jay County Regional Sewer District Board for a three-year term, and Mike Leonhard, Bill Bradly, Barry Hudson, Carl Walker and Phil Ford to one-year terms on the Jay County Redevelopment Commission.
•Authorized Sheriff Dwane Ford to get quotes for two new vehicles that had been budgeted for his department. A 2009 Ford Explorer and a 2012 Chevrolet Impala will be kept in service, but a 1995 Ford van which had been used to transport prisoners will be retired.
•Authorized highway superintendent Ken Wellman to get quotes for a mower.
•Heard concerns about semi trucks blocking traffic on county road 100 North near JRDS Industries on Portland’s north side. After checking property records, commissioners determined that the JRDS Industries site is within the city limits, making enforcement the responsibility of Portland Police Department.
•Heard Wellman say that construction work on county road 800 West south of county road 400 South had created some temporary problems on the road surface. The county has added stone to the road and will be erecting warning signs.
•Continued their discussion of pavement damage caused to county roads when surveyors need to access geographic markers that have been paved over.
•Directed county attorney Bill Hinkle to draft an ordinance on bulk document copy fees to bring the county recorder’s office into compliance with changes in state law.
Commissioners continued to hear upbeat news out of Jay Emergency Medical Service, with shift supervisors John McFarland, Gary Barnett and Emily Anderson making their monthly report.
“Things have been trending steadily up,” said Barnett.
McFarland agreed.
“Things have been going really well,” he said. “There’s been no glitches, no problems.”
Ambulance runs for opioid overdoses continue to be down, and the Indiana State Board of Health is providing 50 free doses of NARCAN (nalaxone) to help address the problem. McFarland said the doses will save JEMS about $2,000 over the course of a year.
Indiana State Department of Health awarded a total of $127,000 in nalaxone kits to 95 agencies in 34 counties, predominantly targeting rural areas. Adams and Randolph counties also received nalaxone kits.
John Moore, who has been active in the move to develop bike and pedestrian trails in the county, told commissioners there would be a pair of upcoming meetings to gain public input while a master plan is being put together.
On Thursday at 5:30 p.m. prior to the Redkey Town Council meeting, a session will be held at Redkey Park Cabin.
Then, on Feb. 20, a session for public input will be held at 6 p.m. at Jay Community Center in Portland.
Similar meetings have already been conducted in Dunkirk and Bryant, and meetings in Salamonia and Pennville are in the planning stages.
In the meantime, said Moore, a survey is being circulated at city and town offices and online. The survey, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete, can be found at bit.ly/JCtrailsurvey.
Moore said survey results will be compiled over the next five weeks. He expects a draft version of the plan to be available by April with adoption by local governments in June.
In other business, commissioners:
•Approved the purchase of a snowplow for the county highway department’s newest truck at a cost of $9,302 from Hoosier Equipment, which had the low price quote.
•Heard a complaint that the recycling bin at the Bryant Community Center is often overflowing and needs to be emptied more frequently than once a month. Commissioners said they would take the matter to the Jay County Solid Waste Management District board.
•Heard county engineer Dan Watson say most problems with television reception related to Bluff Point Wind Energy Center have apparently been resolved by NextEra. “They responded to 29 different complaints,” he said. “Most of the people were satisfied with the progress that was made. … There are still a few people that are upset.”
•Appointed Terry Hanks to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a one-year term, Jim Brunner to the Community and Family Services board for a one-year term, Rex Pinkerton to the Jay County Cemetery Commission for a five-year term, Ralph Frazee to the Jay County Regional Sewer District Board for a three-year term, and Mike Leonhard, Bill Bradly, Barry Hudson, Carl Walker and Phil Ford to one-year terms on the Jay County Redevelopment Commission.
•Authorized Sheriff Dwane Ford to get quotes for two new vehicles that had been budgeted for his department. A 2009 Ford Explorer and a 2012 Chevrolet Impala will be kept in service, but a 1995 Ford van which had been used to transport prisoners will be retired.
•Authorized highway superintendent Ken Wellman to get quotes for a mower.
•Heard concerns about semi trucks blocking traffic on county road 100 North near JRDS Industries on Portland’s north side. After checking property records, commissioners determined that the JRDS Industries site is within the city limits, making enforcement the responsibility of Portland Police Department.
•Heard Wellman say that construction work on county road 800 West south of county road 400 South had created some temporary problems on the road surface. The county has added stone to the road and will be erecting warning signs.
•Continued their discussion of pavement damage caused to county roads when surveyors need to access geographic markers that have been paved over.
•Directed county attorney Bill Hinkle to draft an ordinance on bulk document copy fees to bring the county recorder’s office into compliance with changes in state law.
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