September 24, 2019 at 4:58 p.m.
November action
Commissioners set date for taking action on updated wind farm ordinance, solar ordinance
November action
Jay County Commissioners will take action on recommended changes to the county’s wind farm regulations and new regulations regarding solar farms at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 25.
The changes, establishing new setbacks and other requirements, were approved by Jay County Plan Commission this month but require action by the commissioners before taking effect.
If approved, commissioners are also expected to end a moratorium on new wind farms which has been in place while zoning regulations were reviewed and revised.
Meanwhile, work on the county’s second wind farm, which was approved under the previous rules, is moving rapidly.
County engineer Dan Watson told commissioners Monday that 10 of the turbine foundations for Bitter Ridge Wind Farm, in the southwest corner of the county, have been poured.
“Things are going well,” said Watson.
Commissioners agreed to meet in special session this week to expedite the rezoning of a property on the north edge of Pennville from agricultural to commercial. The property is expected to be the site of a new retail outlet, though no formal announcement has yet been made.
That issue will come before the commissioners at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Also on Monday, commissioners agreed at the urging of Mike Leonhard to open Jay County Retirement Center to non-county residents.
Commissioner Chuck Huffman dissented.
“That does not make sense to me,” he said. “That facility has always been a last resort.”
But Leonhard noted that the center currently has 17 vacant rooms.
“I would like to see us get more veterans out there,” he said.
Commissioner Chad Aker agreed with Leonhard.
The changes, establishing new setbacks and other requirements, were approved by Jay County Plan Commission this month but require action by the commissioners before taking effect.
If approved, commissioners are also expected to end a moratorium on new wind farms which has been in place while zoning regulations were reviewed and revised.
Meanwhile, work on the county’s second wind farm, which was approved under the previous rules, is moving rapidly.
County engineer Dan Watson told commissioners Monday that 10 of the turbine foundations for Bitter Ridge Wind Farm, in the southwest corner of the county, have been poured.
“Things are going well,” said Watson.
Commissioners agreed to meet in special session this week to expedite the rezoning of a property on the north edge of Pennville from agricultural to commercial. The property is expected to be the site of a new retail outlet, though no formal announcement has yet been made.
That issue will come before the commissioners at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Also on Monday, commissioners agreed at the urging of Mike Leonhard to open Jay County Retirement Center to non-county residents.
Commissioner Chuck Huffman dissented.
“That does not make sense to me,” he said. “That facility has always been a last resort.”
But Leonhard noted that the center currently has 17 vacant rooms.
“I would like to see us get more veterans out there,” he said.
Commissioner Chad Aker agreed with Leonhard.
Commissioners also heard a presentation from Jay County Fair Board on plans to replace the north restrooms at the fairgrounds. The current facility does not meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the board has concluded it cannot be remodeled to meet those requirements.
“We have one of the best fairgrounds in the state of Indiana, and we take a lot of pride in that,” said fair board president Brian Aker. “We feel the fairgrounds is the crown jewel of Jay County.”
Board member Trent Paxson noted that poor restroom facilities can play a part in someone’s decision to return to the grounds for future events.
The current facility is about 30 years old.
Replacing it with a larger building with more stalls and showers is expected to cost $135,850, with about $40,000 more in sweat equity from fair board members, including demolition of the old restrooms.
While economic development funds from Bluff Point Wind Energy Center helped pay for the new Farmers Building at the fairgrounds this year, commissioners have earmarked the equivalent funds from Bitter Ridge Wind Farm as match money if the county is successful in the state’s Stellar Communities competition.
“We’re kind of on hold with the Bitter Ridge Wind Farm money until Stellar is decided,” Huffman told fair board members. “What I’d like to see with the second wind farm money is to have it leveraged somehow.”
Fair board members said they are researching grant possibilities to help fund the project.
The board is also looking for some county assistance in creating more stone roadways at the fairgrounds, making mud less of a problem during wet weather.
Mayor Randy Geesaman and former commissioner Barry Hudson updated the commissioners on work by the flood control advisory committee, which has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers.
“We have implemented some short-term measures,” said Geesaman, adding that the county’s work on the banks and the channel of the Salamonie River has been the most important of those.
But Huffman and Hudson complained of a lack of follow-through.
“What I’m concerned about is where we are today,” said Huffman. “We really only have a meeting when we say we need a meeting.”
“I’d be willing to turn (leadership) over,” responded Geesaman.
“But isn’t this your biggest issue?” countered Huffman.
Geesaman said the Army Corps has been adamant about calling for a 40-foot-wide open ditch that would cut diagonally across the fairgrounds, land owned by the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association and farmland owned by the Homan family.
The flood advisory committee has made clear that such a plan is a non-starter and proposes a buried 48-inch tile instead.
The corps, for its part, maintains that such a tile would not only be too expensive but insufficient to do the job of rerouting Millers Branch to Cartwright Ditch.
“Obviously there’s a bigger cost to burying it,” said Hudson. “But you don’t know (how much bigger) until you cost out an open ditch. … As of now the Army Corps is doing nothing. They’re waiting on us and have been waiting on us since May.”
Through Hudson’s intervention, longtime fair board member Bob Lyons now has copies of the necessary paperwork to seek landowners’ consent for the corps to walk across the land involved. He will be meeting with landowners individually.
Huffman concluded, “I would like to see the flood committee more engaged.”
“OK,” said Geesaman. “We can do that.”
In other business, commissioners:
•Agreed to purchase a new vehicle for Jay-Portland Building and Planning from Fuqua Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep at a cost of $21,042 after a trade-in.
•Proclaimed Oct. 4 as Manufacturing Day in Jay County. Travis Richards of Jay County Development Corporation said Jay County High School students will have the opportunity to tour eight local manufacturing plants and the skill center in the lower level of John Jay Center for Learning that day. “College isn’t right for everybody,” said Aker. “This is great.”
•Accepted the donation of a sand-bagging machine from FCC (Indiana) to be used in the event of flood emergencies.
•Decided to review quotes on a water softener for Jay County Retirement Center and quotes on roof repairs at the county highway garage at Wednesday’s special meeting.
•Signed a renewed bridge agreement with Mercer County for Stateline Road
•Heard Watson’s concerns about future paving funds from the state gasoline tax. While the county received nearly $1 million last year, that number dropped by about $350,000 this year. “It’s become an issue,” he said. “I don’t know what’s going on down there (in Indianapolis).”
•Acting as the county drainage board, approved plans for additional paving at the north end of the football field at East Jay Middle School when the building begins housing third through fifth graders next year.
•Also acting as the drainage board, approved a request from Portland Economic Development Corporation for some work on the retention pond at Portland Industrial Park.
“We have one of the best fairgrounds in the state of Indiana, and we take a lot of pride in that,” said fair board president Brian Aker. “We feel the fairgrounds is the crown jewel of Jay County.”
Board member Trent Paxson noted that poor restroom facilities can play a part in someone’s decision to return to the grounds for future events.
The current facility is about 30 years old.
Replacing it with a larger building with more stalls and showers is expected to cost $135,850, with about $40,000 more in sweat equity from fair board members, including demolition of the old restrooms.
While economic development funds from Bluff Point Wind Energy Center helped pay for the new Farmers Building at the fairgrounds this year, commissioners have earmarked the equivalent funds from Bitter Ridge Wind Farm as match money if the county is successful in the state’s Stellar Communities competition.
“We’re kind of on hold with the Bitter Ridge Wind Farm money until Stellar is decided,” Huffman told fair board members. “What I’d like to see with the second wind farm money is to have it leveraged somehow.”
Fair board members said they are researching grant possibilities to help fund the project.
The board is also looking for some county assistance in creating more stone roadways at the fairgrounds, making mud less of a problem during wet weather.
Mayor Randy Geesaman and former commissioner Barry Hudson updated the commissioners on work by the flood control advisory committee, which has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers.
“We have implemented some short-term measures,” said Geesaman, adding that the county’s work on the banks and the channel of the Salamonie River has been the most important of those.
But Huffman and Hudson complained of a lack of follow-through.
“What I’m concerned about is where we are today,” said Huffman. “We really only have a meeting when we say we need a meeting.”
“I’d be willing to turn (leadership) over,” responded Geesaman.
“But isn’t this your biggest issue?” countered Huffman.
Geesaman said the Army Corps has been adamant about calling for a 40-foot-wide open ditch that would cut diagonally across the fairgrounds, land owned by the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association and farmland owned by the Homan family.
The flood advisory committee has made clear that such a plan is a non-starter and proposes a buried 48-inch tile instead.
The corps, for its part, maintains that such a tile would not only be too expensive but insufficient to do the job of rerouting Millers Branch to Cartwright Ditch.
“Obviously there’s a bigger cost to burying it,” said Hudson. “But you don’t know (how much bigger) until you cost out an open ditch. … As of now the Army Corps is doing nothing. They’re waiting on us and have been waiting on us since May.”
Through Hudson’s intervention, longtime fair board member Bob Lyons now has copies of the necessary paperwork to seek landowners’ consent for the corps to walk across the land involved. He will be meeting with landowners individually.
Huffman concluded, “I would like to see the flood committee more engaged.”
“OK,” said Geesaman. “We can do that.”
In other business, commissioners:
•Agreed to purchase a new vehicle for Jay-Portland Building and Planning from Fuqua Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep at a cost of $21,042 after a trade-in.
•Proclaimed Oct. 4 as Manufacturing Day in Jay County. Travis Richards of Jay County Development Corporation said Jay County High School students will have the opportunity to tour eight local manufacturing plants and the skill center in the lower level of John Jay Center for Learning that day. “College isn’t right for everybody,” said Aker. “This is great.”
•Accepted the donation of a sand-bagging machine from FCC (Indiana) to be used in the event of flood emergencies.
•Decided to review quotes on a water softener for Jay County Retirement Center and quotes on roof repairs at the county highway garage at Wednesday’s special meeting.
•Signed a renewed bridge agreement with Mercer County for Stateline Road
•Heard Watson’s concerns about future paving funds from the state gasoline tax. While the county received nearly $1 million last year, that number dropped by about $350,000 this year. “It’s become an issue,” he said. “I don’t know what’s going on down there (in Indianapolis).”
•Acting as the county drainage board, approved plans for additional paving at the north end of the football field at East Jay Middle School when the building begins housing third through fifth graders next year.
•Also acting as the drainage board, approved a request from Portland Economic Development Corporation for some work on the retention pond at Portland Industrial Park.
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