$$ committed

Jay County Commissioners agreed Monday to commit $1.25 million in wind farm economic development funds and $750,000 in economic development income tax revenues to match some $30 million from the state if the county’s regional proposal comes out on top in the Stellar Communities competition.

In all, about $6 to $8 million in local match will be required, said Community Developer Ami Huffman, should the county win the Stellar designation.

Commissioners Chuck Huffman, Mike Leonhard and Chad Aker agreed that leveraging the county’s funds to secure the multi-million dollar support from state agencies makes sense.

“The funds are there,” said Chuck Huffman.

Commissioners also learned that work is underway on the county’s second wind energy center, with the first 10 turbines in Bitter Ridge Wind Farm targeted for an area west of Indiana 1.

“This first few days have been kind of hectic,” county engineer Dan Watson said. “It’s moving pretty well. … Most people are working with them and are courteous.”

Watson said Mortenson, the contractor on the project, currently has three holes dug and expect to be pouring foundations later this week.

“They’re going to be working out there for the next three months,” he said. The project’s home base during construction is located at the intersection of Indiana 1 and county road 800 South.

He noted that the first layer of new asphalt has been installed on Mount Pleasant Road and said Milestone Contractors, Portland, plans to put down the second layer and install shoulder stone later this month.

“We still have several locations that need extensions installed on culverts and shoulders widened ahead of their return,” he said. “All should be completed in early October.”

Watson also noted that paving on county road 50 West has been completed from Indiana 18 to the Jay-Adams line. Work still needs to be completed on county road 400 South from Indiana 1 to Dunkirk and county road 1150 West from 400 South to 300 South.

In other business, commissioners:

•Named Hope Confer as the new director of the Jay County Retirement Center.

•Approved a new contract with Kaup Pharmacy, Fort Recovery, to serve the retirement center’s needs.

•Agreed to ask the courthouse security committee to take a look at how security is to be handled during events like Winterfest and the summer Farmers’ Market when offices are closed but the public has access.

•Asked custodian Bruce Sutton to get additional quotes on water-proofing and tuck-pointing the courthouse. He was also asked to get quotes on replacing aging boiler and chilller units. “We might as well get it on the agenda,” said Leonhard.

•Appointed Lori Smith to the Jay County Health Board, replacing Dale Widman who has resigned.

•Learned that kitchen staff at the retirement center will be getting Serv-Safe training and staff will be receiving CPR and first aid training. “I’ll donate my time to be your instructor” for first aid and CPR, said Aker, who is also a Portland firefighter.

•Decided that all county vehicles should be marked clearly for the benefit of the public.

•Heard Amanda Cox defend her performance as retirement center director. She was removed from the position by the commissioners in August. “I worked my butt off,” said Cox, disputing any assertion that she had not handled funds properly.

•Learned that Jay Emergency Medical Service is no longer providing ambulance transport to Indianapolis except when it’s an emergency and weather prevents a helicopter from coming in.

•Approved having Do Right Painting, Coldwater, Ohio, power-wash and seal Jay County Jail at a cost of $16,500 for labor and $7,198.40 for materials.

•Noted that more than half of the county employees who have not been taking part in the Know B4 internet security training work in Jay County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Dwane Ford asked for a list of those who have not taken the training.