Sheriff's office to get a new vehicle

Jay County Commissioners OK’d purchasing a new vehicle Monday to replace a patrol car for Jay County Sheriff’s Office.

The department’s 2021 Dodge Durango was damaged beyond repair Oct. 15 after a Portland man failed to yield the right of way to an officer at the intersection of Main and Commerce streets in Portland, according to a sheriff’s office accident report.

Jay County Sheriff Ray Newton said insurance provided about $26,000 for the car. He presented potential replacements from Thomas Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Highland, Don Franklin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Somerset, Kentucky, and Glass Capital Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Dunkirk, priced at about $39,200, $39,800 and $41,295, respectively.

Commissioners advocated for the local option if it could provide a car within the next few weeks. If it was unable to do so, they suggested going with vehicles from the other businesses.

Newton said Monday afternoon the Dunkirk dealership doesn’t have vehicles currently available. He had not heard back from the Highland dealership and planned to get in touch with the Kentucky dealership.

In other business during Monday’s meeting, commissioners Rex Journay, Brian McGalliard and Chad Aker:

•Signed three-year contracts with sheriff’s office deputies Aaron Honeycutt and Bob Armstrong, who are attending Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

•Approved a formal resolution declaring the development of the 68 acres acquired by Jay County earlier this year as the county’s priority for the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 2.0 initiative.

•OK’d Newton to apply for a grant through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

•Agreed to participate in the state’s multi-hazard mitigation plan per recommendation from emergency management agency director Samantha Rhodehamel, who noted the plan will need to be updated in 2025.

•Approved more than $1.68 million in claims, including a $198,877 quarterly claim from LifeStream Services that is partially funded by the state.

•OK’d paying $9,500 to NuFlow of Indianapolis to re-line up to 10 feet of sewer line above Jay County clerk Jon Ead’s office in Jay County Courthouse.

•Learned community coordinator Nate Kimball has set his office hours at the Community Resource Center in Portland for 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays.

•Removed former Jay County Country Living director Melissa Blankley from the living facility’s bank account and added employee Kristie Delaney, who is handling the facility’s finances in the interim.