EDIT plan approved

The new five-year plan for Jay County economic development income tax dollars is in place. It will begin starting January 1, 2021.

Jay County Council approved Jay County Development Corporation’s five-year plan for EDIT dollars at a Wednesday meeting. (These funds are separate from JCDC’s annual budget.)

The plan has also been OK’d by city and town councils across Jay County, as well as Jay County Commissioners in November.

EDIT revenue for the next five years will be used for spec buildings, developing industrial land, acquiring land for industrial, residential and commercial use, investing in downtown, revolving loans for local businesses, blight eradication and as a match for grants like the Indiana Department of Transportation’s Community Crossings program. JCDC executive director Travis Richards highlighted a few of these items at the meeting.

“We tried to be all inclusive,” Richards said. “We know we’re (likely) not going to be able to do all those things in five years, but we don’t really want to limit ourselves.”

The county and its municipalities are expected to generate about $960,000 annually in EDIT dollars, although Richards noted that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic may impact those figures. About 83% of those funds in the EDIT plan have been committed, Richards continued, giving the group some flexibility.

Council member Jeanne Houchins said 2020 has “probably been the worst year” for prospective companies looking to move to the county.

Business in that category slowed for a while, Richards agreed. He mentioned companies often don’t want to build a new building but rather move into an existing structure, and many are specific about what their building needs to come pre-equipped with.

“They want a certain ceiling height, or they want 16 docks, or they want all these things, but I don’t know if there’s a building in the state of Indiana that matches what they’re really after,” he said.

Richards also brought up a webinar series for elected officials only that East Central Indiana Regional Partnership has created. He encouraged council members to sign up for the four-part series in January. Each session lasts about an hour.

Council approved several additional appropriations, including $100,000 for county equipment. County auditor Anna Culy said the appropriation will be used for a variety of things. As she explained, a speaker on the right side of the auditorium began emitting a high-pitched sound similar to that of a steaming kettle.

“Evidently we might need to replace that (too), whatever it is,” she said, and council members laughed.

Council also approved transfers in 14 different funds. Jay Emergency Medical Service had the largest request with 30 transfers, or $100,653.48 total.

“COVID messed a lot of things up. It really increased my overtime,” said JEMS director Gary Barnett.

Also, Sheriff Dwane Ford and Houchins discussed the extra money needed for the sheriff’s office phone bills. In October, council appropriated $3,000 for the bills, and in November, it appropriated $8,000.

Houchins said the office switched to a new carrier, the First Responder Network Authority known as FirstNet. It’s designed for public safety, she explained.

Previously, the costs were paid out of commissary dollars. But a $13,000 budget wasn’t enough for the new service, which Ford said was not anticipated. Ford said they have tried to save and only use what is necessary. Ultimately, though, he will need to meet with officials and decide how to move forward funding the service.

Near the end of the meeting, Houchins presented certificates to Cindy Newton and Gary Theurer for their time on the council. Newton, who ran for re-election but lost in the primary, has served on the council for eight years. Theurer has served in county government for 24 years as a commissioner and council member.

“I wish you all the best in your decisions,” Theurer said. Council and public members erupted in laughter.

In other business, council members Houchins, Newton, Theurer, Mike Rockwell, Faron Parr, Ted Champ and Amy Barrett:

•Approved the following: a resolution to move $667,572.65 in CARES Act disbursements to the county general fund, which will reimburse the county for COVID-related expenses, and the 2021 salary ordinance.

•Appropriated the following: $10,000 for Jay County Retirement Center part-time employees’ wages; $50,000 for COVID-related wage expenses; $750 for court translator services; $2,500 for retirement center November and December resident activities; $118,861.64 for the Salamonia River clean out; $1,738.03 for JEMS emergency planning contractual services; $2,200 for health insurance; $7,000 for COVID-19 equipment; and $1,396,957.29 for Community Crossings grants.

•OK’d the following transfers: $3,290.62 for clerk’s office wages; $14,106.66 for Jay County Sheriff’s Office compensation and $2,610.07 for deputies; $4,027.30 for postage used for the election; $30,000 for Jay County Commissioners’ contractual services; $5,000 for a part-time courthouse custodian and $1,000 for janitorial supplies; $15,000 for Jay County Jail compensation; $12,150 for retirement center wages and $400 for repair equipment; $49.40 for deputy pay; $500 for Jay County Highway Department mechanic wages; $10,000 for COVID-19 wages; $5,848.04 for E-911 equipment; $2,400 for Jay County Building and Planning employer health insurance; and $656.61 for custodian health insurance.