Restrooms will be replaced

The north restroom and shower facility at Jay County Fairgrounds will be replaced thanks to a grant from The Portland Foundation, “sweat equity” from the fair board and an assist from county government.

But that last bit still requires approval from the Jay County Council next month.

Jay County Commissioners Chuck Huffman, Chad Aker and Mike Leonhard agreed Monday to provide $25,000 in economic development funds from Bluff Point Wind Energy Center and $45,000 in infrastructure funds that come from tipping fees at Jay County Landfill.

The Portland Foundation has approved a grant of $40,000 for the project, and the fair board’s contribution — mostly in the form of labor — is estimated at $33,500.

The north restrooms and showers receive heavy use by 4-H members during the fair and by campers during the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Show. They have been in poor condition for a number of years and do not meet current standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“The biggest thing we’re running into is time,” fair board president Brian Aker told commissioners. “Our window is very small and the longer we delay it, the harder it is to get it done.”

Commissioners were also unanimous in hiring Eli Coblentz, rural Portland, to re-build the raised floor in the Jay County Clerk’s office that houses computer cables and wiring. A new computer system will be installed this year to bring the office into compliance with new state requirements, and the old raised floor is in need of repair.

Clerk Jon Eads had investigated the possibility of installing a dropped ceiling in the office to conceal the cables, but quotes from contractors were much higher for a dropped ceiling than for a raised floor.

Coblentz submitted the low quote on the project at a cost of $29,474, including carpeting.

No action was taken on a proposal to have Jay County declared a Second Amendment Sanctuary.

Local gun rights advocates urged approval, arguing that a local ordinance would provide a level of protection for gun owners in the event that state or federal laws infringed on their constitutional rights.

“We see time and time again Second Amendment rights are under attack,” said Evan James. A local amendment would “tell the state and federal government we will not tolerate any infringement.”

But commissioners and their attorney, Bill Hinkle, were skeptical.

“Federal law would supersede,” said Hinkle.

“We can’t decide what’s unconstitutional or not,” said Huffman. “I just don’t know that it does anything, that it has any legal weight.”

Hinkle and commissioners will review a proposed ordinance over the next month and placed the item on their March 23 meeting agenda.

James said 13 Indiana counties have adopted a sanctuary ordinance and another 30 are considering the issue.

In other business, commissioners:

•Heard county retirement center director Hope Confer say that despite the installation of a new water softener, arsenic levels in the center’s well are testing above state limits. Currently, the center is using bottled water for all human consumption. “We shut the drinking fountains down,” she said. Possible solutions include drilling a new well, finding a way to connect to water from the City of Portland or installing a filtration system. Leonhard said he would investigate the options and have the well re-tested.

•Approved rezoning 3 acres of land in Knox Township for a new cell phone tower to be erected by Tillman Infrastructure for AT&T. The rezoning was at the recommendation of Jay County Plan Commission.

•As county drainage board, discussed continuing drainage problems affecting houses on Division Road east of Portland.

•Approved revised guidelines for the county economic development income tax (EDIT) advisory committee. All requests for EDIT funds must be initiated with the commissioners.

•Heard a complaint from Don Walter about the use of wind farm funds for projects other than paving rural roads. “Seems to me everybody’s up here wanting money,” he said. “We should put all those on hold until we get the last mile paved.”

•Learned Leonhard is donating a new floor for the men’s bathroom at the retirement center.

•Noted a public hearing on re-establishing the county’s cumulative bridge fund will be held at 9:15 a.m. March 9.

•Learned 21 chickens have been donated for the retirement center. It’s been more than a year since there was livestock of any kind at the center.