Work together with new leaders

To the editor:

The current leadership of Jay County has been doing a good job of helping the citizens protect themselves and their loved ones. They have been proactive in this unusual time for the safety of our community. I know they have the best interest of Jay County at heart.

As we are all working from and staying at home, perhaps now is the time for reflection and how we can help Jay County move forward as we come out of this pandemic situation.

Currently, we have many new people in leadership roles. A new Portland mayor, John Boggs, a new president of Portland City Council, Kent McClung, a new Portland Board of Works, a new president of Portland Redevelopment Commission (controlling the tax increment financing district funds of $810,000), Rusty Inman, a new Jay County Development Corporation executive director, Travis Richards, and a new Jay County Chamber of Commerce executive director, Tabby Sprunger.

Now may be the time to explore what has been established previously within each of these entities and delve into how to work together and move forward for the greater good of our community.

•Board of Works — Flooding. The new board could revisit the $49,650 contract approved April 25 for Choice One Engineering to mitigate flooding in and around Haynes Park. They may also want to review the $635,850 estimated cost for the courthouse drainage project dated July 2018.

•City council — New members could review and discuss the City of Portland revitalization plan presented to the city Dec. 7, 2016, by the Ball State University architecture department. Furthermore, another Portland revitalization plan costing over $30,000 in February 2019 may need to be revisited. Upon review, council may wish to act on the four projects suggested by the report from Architecture Preservation Planning.

•Redevelopment commission — New members might desire to evaluate the $39,223.09 Ratio Architects report dated Aug. 8, 2014, on 214-216 W. Main St. (Bailey Building) to determine if now is the time to do something with their TIF funds.

I have knowledge of these things because I am interested in the betterment of our community. Some of these negotiations occurring several years ago would be difficult for a new committee member to know.

Let’s work together to back our new leaders in making the heartbeat of Jay County stronger and more vibrant. I am confident that in working together we can may our community strong once again.

Barry Hudson

Portland