Wind, water and $

Wind energy, flood mitigation and budget control.

Some of the major themes from 2017 will continue to be at the forefront for Jay County this year, commissioner president Chuck Huffman and council president Jeanne Houchins said Tuesday during their State of the County Address.

NextEra Energy Resources constructed the $200 million Bluff Point Wind Energy Center, about two-thirds of which is in Jay County with the rest in Randolph County, from May to November 2017. It was the largest single construction project in the history of the county, Huffman noted, adding that increased assessed value of the properties should result in lower property tax rates.

Now, Scout Clean Energy, a company based in Boulder, Colorado, is hoping to build a second wind farm to the west of the Bluff Point project in Jefferson and Richland townships. Bitter Ridge Wind Farm would involved a $135 million investment, all in Jay County, Huffman said.

He added that Scout hopes to build the wind farm in 2019 in an effort to take advantage of tax credits.

Flooding has been part of the local discussion for the better part of a decade as a result of major Portland floods in 2011 and 2015, as well as lesser issues in 2013.

Huffman reported that the county is continuing to work with the city on solutions, and in the last year has been consulting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

He praised efforts by county crews to clean out and tier the banks of the Salamonie River from Seventh Street to the eastern edge of the city over the last two years, and said plans are to continue the process this year from Seventh Street south and west to Indiana 67.

“We look forward to (work with the Army Corps) coming to fruition and coming to a plan,” Huffman said during his portion of the speech, which was part of Jay County Chamber of Commerce’s monthly networking luncheon at IU Health Jay. “It’ll be challenging to implement whatever the plan is, but we just need to get the plan. …

“We’re doing, we think, as much as we can at this point, but there’s just a lot of planning and a lot of study that needs to go into it.”

Huffman praised efforts to make Jay Emergency Medical Service more efficient through a new leadership structure and outside billing system, explained that commissioners refinanced Jay County Jail bonds to save more than $400,000 and noted the county’s contribution to the fairgrounds grandstand project.

He said plans for this year include working to reduce health insurance costs and improve the county’s roads.

He also complimented Jay County Hospital Board on its strategic planning work that led to the March 1 integration with Jay County Hospital.

“It’s always better for a community to retain ownership and control of certain entities such as the hospital. But I think we all realize in today’s complex world of medical equipment systems and with the complication of ever-changing medical insurance coverages and processes, we agreed with the hospital’s board of trustees in deciding to join forces with IU Health …

“We’ve been very pleased and confident in the partnership the community is now forging with this excellent medical provider.”

Houchins focused her comments on finances, noting that council worked with an outside consultant in an effort to create a balanced budget and rebuild funds that had been struggling. As a result, the county’s general fund balance has climbed from less than $300,000 at the close of 2014 to nearly $2 million on Dec. 31, and the county was able to give employee raises this year after several years of wage freezes.

She reiterated her goal of continuing to keep finances heading in a positive direction.

“All in all, I think that the county is in pretty good fiscal condition,” Houchins said. “I think I can speak for the rest of the council that we will continue to work hard to spend your money wisely and fairly for everyone involved.”