Preliminary OK

The county’s first solar project continues to move forward.

Jay County Council signed a preliminary tax abatement Wednesday with sustainable energy company Invenergy for its proposed Skycrest Solar facility.

More legislation, including a final tax abatement, is expected in the coming months.

Invenergy, a global firm with headquarters in Chicago, is planning a $150 million, 155-megawatt facility located on about 2,500 acres in Penn and Jackson Townships. Construction is expected to be completed by 2024.

Invenergy will save about $5.8 million in property taxes with the proposed abatement. Once the abatement has expired, the county will be looking at nearly $50 million in new assessed value and reduce tax rates around the county, explained Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors representative Jason Semler.

By Indiana law, the two-step process for tax abatement also requires a final agreement to be signed after a public hearing, explained project attorney Mary Solada.

“I view this as an application for abatement,” said Solada, who was involved with NextEra Energy Resources and Scout Clean Energy on their wind farm projects in Jay County.

She noted that the project will provide two full-time jobs with an average salary of $52,000. There will also be construction jobs –– for which Solada said Invenergy will seek to hire locally –– for the expected year-long construction of the facility.

Solada mentioned some benefits to a solar facility, stating that panels are quiet and don’t produce light in the dark, unlike local complaints with wind turbines.

Jay County Commissioners signed road use and decommissioning agreements with Invenergy on March 22. An economic development agreement is targeted to be complete by July 5. (The process has been paused while waiting on pending legislation at the Indiana General Assembly which may require changes to such an agreement.)

Semler also reminded council members about some of the county tax benefits that would from the project. The increased assessed value will result in reduced tax rates throughout the county.

He estimated the county’s cumulative capital improvement fund will increase each year, and once the abatement is finished, the county should expect an additional $16,400 each year.

Council, absent Ted Champ, approved the preliminary agreement unanimously.

Also Wednesday, council approved a request from Jay County Fair Board for a donation of $50,000 toward Christmas lights.

The fair board plans to open a drive-thru event in November and December and hopes to bring in about $72,000 annually from the event, although that figure may change if the fair board accepts free-will donations at the gate instead of charging admission. The group has already purchased $40,000 in lights.

Jay County Economic Development Income Tax Advisory Committee recently recommended approval of the request, and Jay County Commissioners voted Monday to use EDIT funds for the project.

Council member Matt Minnich questioned the usage of EDIT funds.

“My only concern is, are we setting a new standard for how EDIT funds are spent by just picking and choosing organizations that we (contribute) money (toward)?” he said.

He also voiced concern for the cost of the project, saying he’d prefer to fund half of the request instead of the full amount.

Jay County Development Corporation director Travis Richards noted at the EDIT advisory committee meeting April 8 that the five-year plan for EDIT funds projects includes a section for local amenities –– which includes Arts in the Parks and fireworks displays –– estimated at about $75,000 per year. All of that amount is already allotted for expected recurring costs.

Council member Jeanne Houchins said the fair is for the entire county and voiced support of the event.

“My opinion is this project … is for the county, and that’s what that EDIT money is for, it’s for the development of the county,” she said. “Everyone in the county should think they own a little of (those) fairground(s) because it’s the county fair.”

The request was then approved, with Minnich as the only dissenting vote.

Council also appropriated $309,566 for two new dump trucks for Jay County Highway Department. One of the trucks being replaced is nearly 22 years old, explained highway superintendent Donnie Corn. He’s hoping to implement a rotation plan into the budget for 2022 to start purchasing two new trucks each year.

In other business, council members Faron Parr, Amy Barrett, Ray Newton, Mike Rockwell, Houchins and Minnich:

•Extended the deadline for comp time accrued during the coronavirus pandemic to May 15. If it is not used by that date, it will be paid out in cash by the end of May.

•Made additional appropriations, including $5,785.99 for two new laptops for Jay County Prosecutor’s Office. County prosecutor Wes Schemenaur explained his computer is outdated and without his laptop, he’s unable to review the files he needs for court cases. “The most important thing in my office is these laptop computers,” Schemenaur said. Other additional appropriations were: $1,350 for a new laptop and fridge for Jay County Health Department. Peggy Atkinson from the department explained both items will be helpful to the vaccination process; $58,461.61 for contractual services for Jay County Tourism Bureau.