County, JCDC working toward contract

Jay County Development Corporation and the county are working their way toward a contract.

The bulk of Tuesday’s Jay County Development Corporation meeting was spent hashing out details of the proposed contract between the organization and the county. The board ultimately agreed to have JCDC executive director Travis Richards, Jay County Commissioners president Chad Aker and attorneys Josh Atkinson and Wes Schemenaur update the contract based on Tuesday’s discussion with hopes of getting it approved at a special meeting in the coming weeks.

Discussions between the county and Jay County Development Corporation have been ongoing since October, when county officials proposed changes to the organization’s bylaws. Among them were permanent seats for a county commissioner and county council member on JCDC’s executive committee.

JCDC’s board in April agreed to have its study committee review a proposal from county officials that the commissioners president and council president (or their appointees) be added to the executive committee, JCDC fill out an annual funding application, a contract be developed between the county and JCDC and the county hire a contract employee as a community coordinator and grant writer to assist JCDC and all communities within the county.

The county submitted a proposed contract to JCDC last week.

JCDC’s board spent more than an hour discussing the contract Tuesday, with most of the questions involving various required reports. The board and Jay County Commissioners Chad Aker and Brian McGalliard ultimately agreed that if the commissioners and council have representation on the executive committee, current reporting procedures will suffice. (Those include brief weekly updates and monthly reports sent to the board, as well as quarterly visits to commissioners and council meetings.)

Also discussed Tuesday were the renewal period for the contract (six months in the proposal), the county’s financial commitment ($41,127.49 payable semiannually) and details of the relationship between JCDC and the community coordinator/grant writer the county plans to hire. Board members suggested a one-year contract period, setting specific dates JCDC will receive its funding and clarifying JCDC’s responsibilities in relationship with the community coordinator/grant writer.

In other business:

•Mark Leavell reminded the board that tractor pulls are scheduled for 7 p.m. June 17 in Redkey.

•Mary Adair of Visitors and Tourism Bureau noted that the National Center for Great Lakes Native American Culture’s Gathering of Great Lakes Nations Pow Wow is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association grounds on Morton Street across from Jay County Fairgrounds.

•Portland Mayor John Boggs offered a reminder that construction to replace the Indiana 26 (Water Street) bridge on the east side of Portland is scheduled to begin June 26 with the city’s Meridian Street storm sewer expected to start in the following weeks.

•Bryan Alexander informed the board about Portland Elks Lodge’s Flag Day ceremony that is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the lodge.