Road funding takes a hit

Road construction season brought a variety of related topics to Jay County Commissioners on Monday.

Commissioners got a first good look at what the coronavirus pandemic will do to their roads budget, learning motor vehicle highway funds are already down and will result in fewer roads being resurfaced this year.

Jay County Highway Department superintendent Donnie Corn and county engineer Dan Watson both noted the county will chip-and-seal only 70 miles of roads this year, down from the usual 100 miles.

Watson explained the coronavirus pandemic created less travel in March, April and May, resulting in a decrease in motor vehicle highway funds. The department will receive about $500,000 less in MVH funds this year, he estimated.

Anna Culy, county auditor, mentioned as of June 30, funding is already $563,000 less than last year this time.

Commissioners and Corn discussed complaints about the chip-and-seal process, some regarding the oil and others regarding the stone.

Commissioner Chad Aker advised motorists to be cautious on roads following chip-and-seal work.

“We put the stone down obviously to cover up the bleeding roads,” Aker said. “People (should) slow down on some of these roads (because there are) stones flipping up and breaking peoples’ windshields.”

Watson also noted the project to pave Como Road from county road 900 South to county road 50 North is underway.

It was also coordinated with Randolph County, which will pave the road from the county line to Ridgeville.

Seventy-five percent of the Jay County portion of the project is being covered by a Community Crossings state grant.

Watson said he has also scheduled bridge repair work for the bridges on Blaine Pike, Seventh Street and Wayne Street, all of which cross the Salamonie River in Portland. 

Watson has also received four proposals for the next four-year bridge inspection cycle. He expects to have the new contract in place by the fall.

Commissioners also approved an ordinance to create a 30 mph speed zone on county road 75 South near Jay County High School. 

Corn said state police contacted him and explained the speed limit can’t be enforced if it isn’t posted.

“I’ll have (the department) put the signs up, and they’re going to start writing tickets out there,” Corn said.

Watson also noted the final four towers that are part of Bitter Ridge Wind Farm in southwestern Jay County are expected to go up next week. Developer Scout Clean Energy still has underground cable work to do as well before the facility is scheduled to start operation in September. Watson said he’s hopeful paving of roads damaged during the construction process can be completed by the end of the year.

Sheriff Dwane Ford also presented two quotes for security cameras for Jay County Courthouse. Commissioners plan to seek advice about the proposed systems and will review the quotes again at a later meeting.

In other business, commissioners Chuck Huffman, Mike Leonhard and Aker:

•Approved the following: $1,900 for the annual website domain fees; tax increment financing (TIF) funds to be distributed as required to the Portland and Jay County redevelopment commissions; $7,622 to migrate phone data to a new server and an additional $840 for first-year maintenance; $116 a month in the infrastructure waste management fund to contract a dumpster from Best Way Disposal for the retirement center; paying invoices totaling $8,757.32 for the new bathroom facility that is under construction at Jay County Fairgrounds; and a request from Kimbra Chenoweth-O’Brien, executive director of Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition, to distribute $15,700 in drug local coordinating council money.

•Voted to have farmer Alan Dirksen to pay the $1,700 fee for tapping in to a new drain tile on land owned by Marla Lutes on the west side of U.S. 27 just north of Portland. Lutes expressed frustration about the project and the fee, saying there was no precedent for the charge.

•Heard budget requests from county assessor Robin Alberson for a flyover for the county’s geographic information system database and Bettie Jacobs of Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District.

•Received updates from Travis Richards and Ami Huffman of Jay County Development Corporation. Richards noted JCDC surveyed local businesses about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and learned about 80% participated in the Paycheck Protection Program. Huffman noted the county received an Indiana Criminal Justice Grant that will allow the hiring of an additional staff member to clean areas including Jay County Jail, Jay County Community Corrections, Jay County Prosecutor’s Office, Jay Circuit Court and Jay Superior Court. Commissioners agreed to consult with courthouse superintendent Bruce Sutton about hiring for that position.