Commissioners OK JCDC $$$

Two county entities are making steps toward a solution to conflict.

Jay County Commissioners agreed to pay a $105,000 claim to Jay County Development Corporation for six months of its annual budget during a meeting Monday. Commissioners also agreed Monday to give $137,500 — it’s the second portion of funds previously allocated — toward Jay County Humane Society’s new building project.

Jay County Development Corporation executive director Travis Richards noted he submitted a funding application for his organization’s budget. He requested $105,000 Monday and the other half of the budget on July 1. (Typically, JCDC submits budget claims twice a year.)

Commissioner Chad Aker voiced support for the request, noting he would like for both commissioners and JCDC to come to an agreement on matters moving forward.

JCDC is considering changes to its bylaws that would assign permanent seats on the executive committee to several local government officials and establish a code of conduct. Commissioner Brian McGalliard has also suggested contracting with JCDC, a move he said is required by state statute. (Indiana Code 6-3.6-10-2 says “a county, city, or town may use revenue allocated for economic development purposes” … for “contract payments to a nonprofit corporation whose primary corporate purpose is to assist government in planning and implementing economic development projects.”)

Commissioners agreed to pay the $105,000 claim.

Aker read from a prepared statement at the end of the meeting.

“Despite the rumors that may be going around, the commissioners are not seeking to do away with JCDC,” he said. “The commissioners are committed to working out an agreement with JCDC that best address the county’s economic development needs … Historically, JCDC has submitted two funding requests per year, so approval of their request in this manner is not out of the ordinary and is also a gesture of good faith as we work out an agreement with JCDC.”

Richards also asked commissioners about their progress with creating a plan for economic development income tax funds. (They rescinded a five-year plan last month put together by JCDC.) Aker said he would like to meet with JCDC to put together a plan that would be reviewed every two years.

On a related note, commissioners forwarded a $2,000 EDIT funding request from Jay County Historical Society to the county’s EDIT advisory committee for review. The funding was previously allocated to the group in the former plan.

Also Monday, commissioners agreed to give Jay County Humane Society the remaining portion of funds previously designated for renovating the former Fastenal building on the west side of Portland into an animal control facility.

The organization has been providing animal control to the county 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.

(Currently the shelter has 28 dogs in its care. The new facility will have room for roughly 40 dogs and about 150 cats.)

Jay County Humane Society started fundraising in late 2021 to construct a new building. Commissioners agreed to contribute $275,000 in ­­EDIT funds toward the shelter’s project.

The group shifted gears in March 2022 and acquired the former Fastenal building with plans to renovate it for animal control.

Mindy Weaver, co-chair of the fundraising campaign and Jay County Humane Society treasurer, explained Monday they selected Muhlenkamp Building Corporation of Coldwater, Ohio, to complete renovations at a cost of $837,063. With architect fees, that brings the total cost of the project to roughly $1.2 million.

She noted the organization is still about $100,000 short of its goal. It plans to sign a contract with the company soon. Once started, construction will take approximately six months.

In other business, commissioners:

•Reviewed pricing estimates from Five Star Commercial Roofing of Hartford City for putting a seal coat on the roof at the Jay Emergency Medical Service base in Dunkirk, which also houses Dunkirk Fire Department. The estimates included options for 10-year, 15-year and 20-year warrantied roofs, with the latter costing $21,010. (Jay County and the City of Dunkirk would split the price.) Aker noted the price may come down but that he needs to get that information in writing, and McGalliard suggesting looking into the warranty details. Commissioners agreed to table a decision on the matter.

•Agreed to contribute $8,000 for a required preliminary study through American Structurepoint of Indianapolis in relation to constructing a heated storage building for equipment at Jay County Highway Department.

•Approved a detour for road work scheduled in the fall by Indiana Department of Transportation along U.S. 27 between county roads 800 North and 900 North. Plans are to redirect local traffic using county road 900 North, county road 250 East, county road 800 North.

•Approved a release form for those utilizing the shooting range operated by Jay County Sheriff’s Office.

•Paid several claims, including $667,609.18 to POET Bioprocessing of Portland — U.S. Bank sent the company’s bond payment to Jay County by mistake — $7,500 for the Mindbase app and $1,378.75 for participation in the Indiana Bond Bank fuel program.

•Tabled a $1.16 million claim for the purchase of about 68 acres on the western edge of Portland, with commissioners explaining they had not yet determined closing costs. (The county is buying the property in hopes of creating infrastructure for housing. It has also discussed using the land for new public facilities, such as a multi-faceted building for public safety or a recycling center.)

•Selected Progressive Office Products of Portland as a paper supplier at a cost of $4,110.