October 29, 2019 at 4:33 p.m.
Weather helping with wind farm's timeline
Weather helping with wind farm's timeline
Bitter Ridge Wind Farm construction has been in overdrive.
“Foundations are all in,” Jay/Portland Building and Planning director John Hemmelgarn told Jay County Commissioners on Monday.
“Concrete’s done,” he said. “Trenching will start any day. … Mortenson (Construction) is doing a great job out there. … They’ve been great to work with.”
“What’s really helped them is the weather,” said commissioner Mike Leonhard.
With site preparation work going so smoothly this fall, erection of the turbines for the county’s second wind farm is on track for next spring.
In a related matter, commissioners unanimously agreed to release $22,800 in economic development funds from Bluff Point Wind Energy Center to the Town of Redkey to pay for having Hatzell Brothers, Redkey, put a new roof on the town’s park cabin as well as make other improvements. A total of $50,000 in funds from that first wind farm had been set aside for Redkey.
Commissioners first agreed to accept — then unanimously voted to reconsider — the resignation of Melodi Haley as a financial coordinator for the Jay County Retirement Center.
Haley, who is drawing Social Security, told commissioners that the job had entailed more than she had expected and at the current part-time pay level was creating a tax problem for her. Without a boost in pay, she feels she will have to resign effective Nov. 29.
“We accept with great regret,” commissioner Chuck Huffman said.
But later, he and fellow commissioners Chad Aker and Leonhard discussed revisiting Haley’s job description and pay situation.
“Foundations are all in,” Jay/Portland Building and Planning director John Hemmelgarn told Jay County Commissioners on Monday.
“Concrete’s done,” he said. “Trenching will start any day. … Mortenson (Construction) is doing a great job out there. … They’ve been great to work with.”
“What’s really helped them is the weather,” said commissioner Mike Leonhard.
With site preparation work going so smoothly this fall, erection of the turbines for the county’s second wind farm is on track for next spring.
In a related matter, commissioners unanimously agreed to release $22,800 in economic development funds from Bluff Point Wind Energy Center to the Town of Redkey to pay for having Hatzell Brothers, Redkey, put a new roof on the town’s park cabin as well as make other improvements. A total of $50,000 in funds from that first wind farm had been set aside for Redkey.
Commissioners first agreed to accept — then unanimously voted to reconsider — the resignation of Melodi Haley as a financial coordinator for the Jay County Retirement Center.
Haley, who is drawing Social Security, told commissioners that the job had entailed more than she had expected and at the current part-time pay level was creating a tax problem for her. Without a boost in pay, she feels she will have to resign effective Nov. 29.
“We accept with great regret,” commissioner Chuck Huffman said.
But later, he and fellow commissioners Chad Aker and Leonhard discussed revisiting Haley’s job description and pay situation.
“She’s more than showed her value,” said Aker.
“She’s saving us money every month,” added Leonhard.
At the commissioners’ request, county auditor Anna Culy will look into revising the job description so that pay could be adjusted.
“She just brought a whole different level to it,” said Huffman.
In other business, commissioners:
•Approved purchase of a new water softener for the retirement center from Suburban Propane at a cost of $5,495.
•Agreed to assign certificates of sale to the City of Portland for three properties due to come up for tax sale. The properties are located at 115 E. Adams St., 526 W. High St. and 1150 Massachusetts Ave. Only the Massachusetts Avenue property has a structure on it, and Mayor Randy Geesaman said plans call for that to be razed.
•Approved the purchase of a Dodge RAM 1500 truck for the Jay County Surveyor’s Office at a cost of $18,000 after trade-in from Fuqua Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-RAM of Dunkirk. Fuqua provided the lowest quoted price for a truck.
•Approved an interlocal agreement related to implementation of the Stellar Communities program should the county be successful in its Stellar bid.
•Appointed Jane Ann Runyon to serve on the board of directors of John Jay Center for Learning. She will finish the term of Ken Frederickson, who is moving out of the area.
•Heard thanks from Janice Stucky of the Jay County Historical Society for the county’s efforts on the courthouse centennial.
•Proclaimed Credit Union Day at the request of CrossRoads Financial Federal Credit Union.
•Approved the purchase of 80 boxes of letter-size paper from 4U Office Supplies, Celina, Ohio, at a cost of $2,340.
•Accepted an apology from Aker over the personal use of county equipment to move some stone in September. “At the time, I did not know this was not allowed under county policy,” said Aker. “I made a mistake here. … It was an honest mistake I made.” Aker noted that he had paid for the stone and has reimbursed the county for the use of a county truck and an hour of highway superintendent Donnie Corn’s time.
“We feel confident no laws were broke in this case,” said Huffman. The county’s human resources consultant will be asked to review the matter “to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.”
“She’s saving us money every month,” added Leonhard.
At the commissioners’ request, county auditor Anna Culy will look into revising the job description so that pay could be adjusted.
“She just brought a whole different level to it,” said Huffman.
In other business, commissioners:
•Approved purchase of a new water softener for the retirement center from Suburban Propane at a cost of $5,495.
•Agreed to assign certificates of sale to the City of Portland for three properties due to come up for tax sale. The properties are located at 115 E. Adams St., 526 W. High St. and 1150 Massachusetts Ave. Only the Massachusetts Avenue property has a structure on it, and Mayor Randy Geesaman said plans call for that to be razed.
•Approved the purchase of a Dodge RAM 1500 truck for the Jay County Surveyor’s Office at a cost of $18,000 after trade-in from Fuqua Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-RAM of Dunkirk. Fuqua provided the lowest quoted price for a truck.
•Approved an interlocal agreement related to implementation of the Stellar Communities program should the county be successful in its Stellar bid.
•Appointed Jane Ann Runyon to serve on the board of directors of John Jay Center for Learning. She will finish the term of Ken Frederickson, who is moving out of the area.
•Heard thanks from Janice Stucky of the Jay County Historical Society for the county’s efforts on the courthouse centennial.
•Proclaimed Credit Union Day at the request of CrossRoads Financial Federal Credit Union.
•Approved the purchase of 80 boxes of letter-size paper from 4U Office Supplies, Celina, Ohio, at a cost of $2,340.
•Accepted an apology from Aker over the personal use of county equipment to move some stone in September. “At the time, I did not know this was not allowed under county policy,” said Aker. “I made a mistake here. … It was an honest mistake I made.” Aker noted that he had paid for the stone and has reimbursed the county for the use of a county truck and an hour of highway superintendent Donnie Corn’s time.
“We feel confident no laws were broke in this case,” said Huffman. The county’s human resources consultant will be asked to review the matter “to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.”
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD