Plans to purchase

Jay County officials are taking a step toward purchasing a property for future developments.

Jay County Council and Jay County Commissioners adopted a resolution Wednesday to purchase a little more than 68 acres of land on the western edge of Portland city limits. Hopes are to use the property for new housing and potentially construct a new multi-faceted county building on the land.

Officials have been looking into the property on the north side of Indiana 67 owned by Christopher and Tracy Muhlenkamp as a site to build infrastructure for housing. RQAW is in the midst of completing a water and wastewater analysis on the grounds in order to determine if it would be feasible for a large-scale project.

Commissioners and council have also discussed constructing a new facility on the land to house Jay Emergency Medical Service, Jay County Health Department and Jay County Coroner’s Office.

Jay County Council president Jeanne Houchins confirmed per federal guidelines the county is allowed to use American Rescue Plan Act funds to purchase the property.

Houchins noted the average of two appraisals is $1,164,115. She said that translates to roughly $17,119 per acre, which is about $619.20 above the listed price. (Per law, the county may not offer to purchase the land at a cost higher than the average of the two appraisals.)

Commissioner Rex Journay asked during a joint session Jan. 31 if the county should allow a separate entity, such as Jay County Redevelopment Commission, to purchase the land. Addressing the question again Wednesday, Schemenaur noted the redevelopment commission has become more active in the last year.

“They have some different abilities and powers that the council or commissioners don’t have,” explained Schemenaur.

He said utilizing the redevelopment commission could make the land development process easier. He confirmed the property could be transferred to the group in the future.

Wednesday night’s resolution, Schemenaur added, is step one in the land acquisition process. If there is a purchase agreement between the county and the Muhlenkamps, he continued, council will need to pass an ordinance approving the terms and conditions of the purchase.

Houchins and commissioner Brian McGalliard both advocated for beginning to allocate money toward proposed local American Rescue Plan Act projects. Jay County’s just under $4 million dollars needs to be allocated by Dec. 31, 2024, and spent by Dec. 31, 2026.

Jay County is also a part of the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Process (HELP), a program through the Indiana Office of Rural and Community Affairs aimed at helping communities make decisions about allocating the federal funds. As a HELP community, Jay County could also receive an additional $1 million to spend on projects. (It requires the county to use at least a third of its allocation toward projects outlined in the county’s strategic investment plan created through HELP. The plan, which was submitted in December, is currently being reviewed by Purdue University.)

“This is ARP money given to us by the federal government, it has to be allocated and used by ‘X’ date or we risk losing that money,” said McGalliard. “I mean, investing it in farm ground, that’s a pretty good investment … so I kind of look at it in one way, taking money from one pocket and moving (it) to another pocket.”

Commissioners and council declared the county interested in the land and authorized commissioners to act as purchasing agent for the transaction.