Courthouse may get a new system

Jay County Courthouse may be getting upgrades to its camera system.

Courthouse security officer Monte Shrack cited memory issues with the current devices during a Jay County Commissioners meeting Monday.

Shrack explained the system installed in 2020 has been having problems storing video footage. Footage currently dates back as far as about two months, although Shrack explained sometimes the cameras override or stop recording footage at random.

County attorney Wes Schemenaur noted footage dating back as far as six months would be ideal in the event of an incident at the courthouse — six months is the cutoff to file a tort claim against the county — but he said he believed a backlog of 30 or 60 days should generally be enough for most situations. Shrack added that the security officers would likely be aware of such an incident immediately and save the footage.

A few cameras are also recording nearly all the time. The cameras located outside each door are motion-activated, Shrack explained, meaning they’re constantly recording because they lock into movement from flags around the courthouse exterior.

He said Digital Video Solutions has suggested the installation of four new hard drives priced at more than $1,800. 

As an alternative, Shrack suggested the county could look into upgrading to a new camera system, pointing out memory wouldn’t be an issue with cloud-based storage.

Commissioner Brian McGalliard asked Shrack to check with Digital Video Solutions to see if the new hard drives would allow for up to six months of video storage. 

Commissioners president Chad Aker also requested Shrack look into installing infrared cameras outside to replace the motion-activated devices.

Also Monday, McGalliard suggested the county discontinue its work with MakeMyMove, a marketing campaign intended to bring 18 workers into Jay County. McGalliard noted the $50,000 effort — another $50,000 was also contributed by a local organization, along with a $100,000 match from Indiana Economic Development Corporation — has yielded one new resident over the course of the year. He said he would like the remaining funds returned and to review accounting documents associated with the dollars, which were handled through Jay County Development Corporation. 

Commissioner president Chad Aker noted JCDC executive director Travis Richards is on the Jan. 8 meeting’s agenda.

In other business, commissioners Rex Journay, Aker and McGalliard:

•OK’d a one-year agreement with Chris Muhlenkamp to farm the county’s 68 acres located on the western edge of Portland along Indiana 67 for $400 an acre, or $27,200. Kenny Hemmelgarn also submitted a proposal for the land at $265 an acre.

•Approved a new one-year contract with Quality Correctional Care, which handles medical needs for Jay County Jail’s inmates. The agreement, which starts in January, is priced at $120,149.88 and split into monthly payments. Sheriff Ray Newton noted the cost increased about 3% this year.

•Paid more than $4.7 million in claims, including $15,015.66 for firearms as budgeted and $14,049.37 for All Circuit Electric’s work installing LED lights at Jay County Jail and Jay County Sheriff’s Office.

•Learned Jay Emergency Medical Service’s four new Stryker Power Load systems — they’re used to lift patients into the ambulance — will be arriving within the next three weeks. JEMS director Gary Barnett also shared November’s financial breakdown, which came to $131,232.54 in expenses and $92,242.08 in income.

•Took bids from Community Auto Group of Bloomington and Thomas Auto Group of Highland under advisement for new vehicles at Jay County Sheriff’s Office.

• Accepted aggregate bids for Jay County Highway Department from US Aggregates, IMI Aggregates and Stoneco.