It’s a rainy day

The rainy day fund was created for use in unforeseen circumstances.

It was agreed Wednesday that it’s difficult to imagine anything fitting that criteria more than the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Jay County Council on Wednesday voted to tap in to the rainy day fund to pay county employees for extra work stemming from the shutdown of most county departments.

That decision came on the recommendation of the county’s personnel committee — commissioner Chuck Huffman and council members Jeanne Houchins and Ted Champ — who had discussed the issue via email.

“No one could have ever dreamed this was going to happen,” said Champ, who took part in Wednesday’s meeting via phone. “It is there for emergencies. And I don’t know how it could be any more of an emergency than what we’re dealing with right now.”

Jay County Commissioners on March 17 took steps to close Jay County Courthouse “to the extent possible,” and then during an emergency meeting three days later shut down all non-essential operations of county government. That decision was made to bring the county in line for Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s stay-at-home order that was announced earlier the same day.

As part of their order, commissioners noted “employees who are called in or must work during this period need to track their time and their tasks in the event there is a possibility of reimbursement from the state or federal government.”

The decision Wednesday to use the rainy day fund to pay for such required work was made because some departments do not have additional funds to cover the extra time and to make tracking that spending easier in the case that there is the possibility of reimbursement. Extra time worked because of COVID-19 will be tracked by both the individual departments and the auditor’s office.

The rainy day fund has been built up over the last several years, council president Jeanne Houchins pointed out, and now has a balance of $1.97 million.

“I agree with Ted,” said council member Gary Theurer. “We’ve got a rainy day fund. We built it up for a purpose. Let’s get through this. … That’s what it’s for.”

County auditor Anna Culy also noted employees may choose to take comp time in exchange for the extra work required during the pandemic.

Council members Amy Runyon Barrett, Mike Rockwell, Houchins and Theurer, all in attendance but sitting apart from each other in the auditorium at Jay County Courthouse, voted in favor, with Faron Parr, Cindy Newton and Champ echoing their agreement a moment later via phone.

Departments commissioners deemed to be essential during the shutdown are:

•Jay Emergency Medical Service

•Jay County Security Center

•All county law enforcement

•Jay County Retirement Center

•Jay County Health Department

The courthouse remains open from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays, but visits to its offices are by appointment only. Courts are also continuing to operate, though no inmates are to be physically present in the courtrooms unless necessary.

The commissioners last week voted to keep the current restrictions in place as long as the governor’s stay-at-home order is in effect. It is currently set to expire at midnight April 20.