Commissioners request another meeting

Commissioners would like to discuss more about the contract between the county and Jay County’s local economic development organization.

They held off talking about it in depth Monday.

Commissioners tabled a decision on a contract with Jay County Development Corporation and asked to hold an executive session to discuss the service agreement with JCDC’s executive director and board president.

JCDC executive director Travis Richards explained his board signed the contract April 2. He noted JCDC’s board filled in the budgeted amount stated on the contract at $140,000.

The contract had last been discussed extensively with commissioners in December, and JCDC had been waiting on a decision about the amount of money JCDC would receive via the contract. Commissioners previously requested financial information from JCDC, and Richards expressed at JCDC’s meeting April 2 he felt as though that had been provided to them. JCDC agreed then to write in the amount allocated by Jay County Council — $140,000 — for 2024 and present it to commissioners.

While responding to a question during that meeting last week, commissioner Rex Journay — he’s on the JCDC board — speculated commissioners might want to hold a meeting to discuss expectations of JCDC.

On Monday, commissioners president Chad Aker said Journay had asked Richards for marketing duties he felt comfortable performing. Aker noted commissioners and JCDC still disagree on the amount budgeted for this year and he advised an executive session — he asked county attorney Wes Schemenaur if the business could be conducted in executive session, with Schemenaur saying he would need to look into it — to have “serious conversation” about the details.

Journay asked how quickly the discussion could take place. Schemenaur explained that regardless if the meeting is a special or executive session, the county will need to give a 48-hour notice to the public.

Richards pointed out marketing services are included in the contract.

“Is there something besides what’s written in here that you’re after?” asked Richards.

“It’s written in there, but I’d like to see how you’re going to address that,” responded Aker. “There’s a couple other things in there too, that, like I said, would really like to sit down and have a conversation.”

Richards noted the county and JCDC had been talking about the contract for months and inquired what other parts commissioners would like to discuss.

Commissioner Brian McGalliard made a motion to table the discussion, and it passed unanimously.

In related news, Richards and Jay County Chamber of Commerce director Tabby Sprunger shared hopes to hear a decision on funding from the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 2.0 grant. Indiana Economic Development Corporation, which is administering the funds, meets Thursday. (On Tuesday, morning the Indiana Economic Development Corporation confirmed that award announcements will come at 10 a.m. Thursday.)

Commissioners pointed out Jay County received $300,000 from the first iteration of READI as a portion of the $15 million allocated to the region. They asked Richards if the county could be reassured to see a larger portion of the region’s allocation this time around, with Richards explaining the county has more projects aligned with READI 2.0 grant guidelines. (Richards and Sprunger are Jay County’s representatives on the steering committee for the East Central Indiana region.)

Richards also noted Lilly Endowment is contributing $250 million in conjunction with READI 2.0 to those who are granted the funding.

Approximately $185 million will be used for blight remediation and redevelopment, with the other $65 million set for arts and culture.

Richards pointed out the challenge process to seek funding through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program ends April 17. So far, JCDC has collected 488 surveys regarding internet access. JCDC staff and council member Cindy Bracy have contacted 371 individuals who submitted surveys. Plans are to continue gathering responses before the deadline to challenge Federal Communications Commission data regarding internet services. (BEAD funding will be available to areas that are considered unserved or underserved.)

Also Monday, commissioners heard from community coordinator Nate Kimball that he is working with officials in Redkey, Bryant, Pennville and Salamonia to apply for Thriving Communities, a grant program available through Norfolk Southern railroad. The program allots up to $50,000 to non-profit organizations, government entities or schools within a 90-minute radius of the Norfolk Southern network.

Kimball mentioned he is working with a local resident to determine if they could apply for a Brownfield redevelopment grant in conjunction with their business. He also brought up a tour he recently took of Pennville Custom Cabinetry, noting he is working with Mark Goldman to put together a regular meeting of local manufacturers.  

In other business, commissioners:

•Approved the following claims: $31,283.27 and $704.02 from Rundell, Ernstberger Associates for planning of the development of the county owned 68 acres on the west side of Portland; $15,000 from Jay County Campus of Arts Place for its match toward the Our Town Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA); and $5,000 from Pennville Park Board for its park revitalization project.

•Authorized Jay County Country Living’s advisory board to seek bids and accept the lowest bid for a new washer and dryer, and they OK’d repurposing computers from Jay County Clerk’s Office to be used by Jay County Country Living.

•Took the following under advisement: emulsion bids from KTech and Asphalt Materials and bids for a Western Star truck for Jay County Highway Department from LindCo Equipment Sales of Merrillville, Stoops Automotive Group of Muncie and WA Jones of Columbia City.

•Learned the Jay County Clerk’s Office new election website — uselectionslive.com/jayin — is now available to the public. The resource provides voting data, including locations of polls for different precincts and candidates’ information. It will also be used to share election results in May and November.

•Approved a three-year contract with Perry ProTech for managing printer services for county offices. (Commissioners had reviewed the agreement at previous meetings and requested the addition of a 30-day out clause, which has been added.)

•Were reminded about East Central Indiana Regional Planning District’s comprehensive economic development strategy, a five-year plan for Blackford, Grant, Delaware and Jay counties that serves as a summary of the economic conditions of the region and contains a list of projects identified and prioritized by each county. The district hosted a public forum Tuesday at Jay County Public Library.

•Signed titles for several vehicles that will be going up for sale soon with Loy Real Estate & Auction. 

•Renewed an annual agreement at $18,174.85 with Matrix Integration of Jasper for the backup computer server system used by county offices.

•OK’d paying $5,600 to TJ’s Concrete and Excavation of Portland for repairs to the concrete stairs in Jay County Courthouse and $2,506.60 to Four-U Office Supplies of Celina, Ohio, for paper.

•Heard about plans to outfit highway department vehicles with first aid kits.