Second half of funds not appropriated

Jay County Humane Society will likely need to raise more funds for its building renovation project.

Jay County Council did not make an additional appropriation of $137,500 for the organization during its meeting Wednesday.

County officials previously agreed to contribute $275,000 in economic development income tax (EDIT) funds toward the project. In April 2022, council made a $275,000 additional appropriation for the project.

Council member Matt Minnich on Wednesday questioned why the funds would need to be appropriated again, with council president Jeanne Houchins noting the group wasn’t able to use half of the funding last year. (Commissioners agreed to contribute half of the amount, $137,500, when the humane society purchased the Fastenal building, and on March 13, commissioners approved and signed a claim for the remaining half to the humane society.)

Council member Harold Towell questioned if there was a guarantee the funding would be used for the new animal control facility.

(Commissioners and some council members have been back in forth on discussions in recent months, with members of council questioning commissioners’ exercise of power, specifically in reference to dealings with Jay County Development Corporation and the five-year economic development income tax capital improvement plan commissioners rescinded in February. Commissioners have responded by citing state statute and saying they are within their legal limits.)

County auditor Emily Franks explained if council made the additional appropriation, she would write the organization a check today (Thursday).

Council member Dave Haines made a motion to OK the additional appropriation. His motion died for lack of a second.

Following the meeting, officials cited a few reasons for not funding the project.

“We are in a deficit budget, and so we need to be very careful about what we’re allocating,” said council member Cindy Bracy, who was not on council when the funds were initially approved.

Council members Matt Minnich and Towell had been against contributing to the building project from the start, with Minnich voting against the additional appropriation in April 2022. Towell said he abstained from a vote on the matter because he hadn’t approved giving the funding.

“I just don’t think that’s a good use of county funds,” said Towell. “That’s an awful lot of money for cats and dogs … we’ve got other problems in Jay County. If they could raise that extra $137,000, that’d be great. And if they get stalled out, and they’re short something, come back to us. But I’ve never been in favor of it.”

Jay County Humane Society has contracted with the county for animal control services since December 2020, when it paired with Midwest Pet Refuge to offer the service following former animal control officers Bill and Kathy Fields’ retirement. Its current facility comfortably houses 12 dogs and about 20 cats.

The organization has been working on a new building to expand its space for animals, having purchased the former Fastenal building on the west side of Portland in March 2022. The new facility will have room to house 40 dogs and about 150 cats.

Jay County Humane Society has been fundraising since late 2021 for the project.

Last month, co-chair of the fundraising campaign and humane society treasurer Mindy Weaver told Jay County Commissioners they selected Muhlenkamp Building Corporation of Coldwater, Ohio, to complete renovations, which are already underway. Coupled with land and architect fees, the price tag for the total project comes to about $1.2 million. (At that time, the humane society was still about $100,000 short of its funding goal.)

Also Wednesday, council members Randy May, Houchins, Haines, Minnich, Towell and Bracy, absent Faron Parr, agreed to give $10,974 for a parking expansion at Jay County’s scouting facility. Volunteer Gary Maitlen explained the group has been looking into expanding its parking space at 5363 W. 450 South, hoping to add another 20 parking spaces in front of the building. It’s part of an effort to designate the space as an emergency shelter, which will include adding a generator to the building as well as putting in more urinals, partitions and a handicap-accessible shower to the upstairs restroom. The building also serves as a polling location in elections.

Commissioners recommended the contribution during a meeting Monday with the caveat that Jay County Scouts apply for another round of funding through The Portland Foundation.

Also, council approved the strategic investment plan, the next step in the county’s hand in the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program, a planning effort by Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs for helping communities spend their American Rescue Plan Act dollars. It references different projects — topics were brainstormed by groups of community members last year — the county could invest at least a third of its American Rescue Plan Act dollars into, such as housing development or a new public safety building.

In other business, council:

•Set a public meeting for 6 p.m. May 1 to discuss a proposed comprehensive financial plan for the county with Jason Semler of Baker Tilly and an executive meeting for 6 p.m. May 17 to meet with a potential broadband provider.

•Reviewed reports from Jay County Jail, including the first three months of the inmate meal reports for 2023. According to information provided by Sheriff Ray Newton, the state allocates $2 per meal for inmates. Compared to projected costs, the county has been paying significantly less than the allocated amount the last three months, between $1.12 and $1.23 per meal.

•Made the following additional appropriations: $120,346.67 from the innkeeper’s tax to Jay County Visitor and Tourism Bureau; $4,672 for mapping services through a contract with 39 Degrees North of Converse; $2,571 total for employer social security, Public Employees Retirement Fund and investigator wages at Jay County Prosecutor’s Office; and $1,000 for pauper counsel.

•Made the following transfers: $17,858 from the cumulative capital development equipment fund to the repair buildings and structures fund for a roofing project at Jay Emergency Medical Service/Dunkirk Fire Department; $1,200 from Jay County Superior Court’s guardian ad litem fund to its translator fund; and $1,000 from Jay County Coroner’s autopsy expense fund to its part-time wages fund.