4-H requests $ for repairs

Jay County 4-H is seeking funds to repair some of its buildings.

Dru Mercer, dairy barn superintendent and 4-H council vice president, requested funding for the project at the Jay County Commissioners meeting Monday.

“These buildings are used for more than just a week at the fair,” Mercer pointed out, mentioning the Tri-State Antique Tractor and Engine Show along with other community events like auctions and wedding receptions.

4-H offers more than 55 projects for youth in the community, he said. The Jay County group has more than 400 current members. He advocated for the involvement 4-H has in shaping young lives and careers. He also noted past projects have been funded through donations, grants or fundraisers.

At this point, though, several buildings are in dire need of repair, he said. There are several problems, including rotting or loose foundation posts and unleveling rafters. Some new additions would include another breaker box to avoid shorting breakers during fair week.

Between the east building and the cattle barn, 4-H officials would also like to add canopies or covered walkways to protect animals from rain during fair week. At some point, the green building will need a new heating system as well, Mercer added.

He brought two quotes from former Jay County 4-H members. Muhlenkamp Construction from Coldwater, Ohio, proposed about $151,107, although this is without the two walkways added in to the cost. Mid-States Construction Company from Redkey proposed about $180,065, and if the walkways are taken off the price, the total is about $160,000, Mercer said.

Commissioners suggested Mercer go to The Portland Foundation to seek funding. Commissioners Mike Leonhard and Chuck Huffman said they think 4-H would have a good opportunity to get grants. All three commissioners also voiced support for the organization.

“I see the value in 4-H,” commissioner Chad Aker said. “If we can help out, I’m willing to do whatever we can afford to do.”

Huffman, Leonhard and Aker decided to kick the request to the Jay County Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) Advisory Board, which meets Oct. 19. In the meantime, Huffman suggested 4-H officials decide how much to request from each group. He also suggested they gather letters of support.

Commissioners also decided to require those cutting newly paved Jay County roads to pay for damage done to the road. Farmers sometimes cut into the road to run a tile. Leonhard began the discussion asking if commissioners had yet done anything on the matter, and he noted he’s seen cuts made to county road 250 West, toward the southern part of the county.

Both Aker and Leonhard voted in favor of the decision, with Huffman voting in dissent because he said he would like more information. County attorney Bill Hinkle said he would draft an ordinance for commissioners to sign next meeting.

County auditor Anna Culy explained COVID relief money guidelines are now more relaxed, which she thinks is attributed to the state wanting to put the money to use soon. The rules are more lax about what is qualified, and communities are encouraged to use the funding to cover salaries, Culy said. She asked Huffman to stay after the meeting to sign a request for more funding, which could amount to almost $600,000.

Sheriff Dwane Ford and 911 director Bill Baldwin also brought forward several proposals for the commissioners to review, including:

•A new notification system for the county. Currently, Jay County uses the Nixle notification system. Ford and Baldwin suggested switching to Rave Alert, which will come out of state funds. Some of the additional functions will include automatic weather updates and radius texts. The latter Ford described as notifications sent to anyone within so many miles of the area, regardless of whether or not they’ve opted in for the messages.

•Installing a new server for the sheriff’s department, is expected to cost about $52,545.60. The current system, Spillman software, is about 7 years old. Ford proposed taking half the pay from the maintenance fund this year and the other half from next year’s budget.

•Generator maintenance bids. Commissioners awarded the annual maintenance contract to W.W. Williams generator shop of Fort Wayne for $3,961.65.

•Bids for construction work to the exterior of Jay County Jail. Commissioners awarded the bid to Hemmelgarn Masonry Incorporated for about $1,000.

•New awnings for doors for the sheriff’s office. Ford explained this would protect the key pads from weather and shield anyone waiting at the door.

Chief deputy Patrick Wells also discussed different types of body scanners available for Jay County Jail. Right now, the county has an agreement with Blackford County to use their body scanner to check inmates for contraband such as illegal substances. “Where they hide them, we’re not finding them,” Wells said. He shared stories about inmates who have also swallowed various items, even mentioning one who swallowed a razor blade, to avoid going to jail, he said.

During the meeting, Culy asked commissioners if she could give the final OK for the county match, about $33,000, toward the Pennville Library renovation project. Aker proposed Core Facilities Inc. president Matthew Stechly be hired on as an adviser for the project to make sure it isn’t “over-engineered.” He tossed out a few numbers, one being about $12,000, but he didn’t have an exact quote yet.

Huffman and Hinkle noted they’re not sure commissioners have jurisdiction to do much with the project because it’s funded by the state. Huffman suggested Jay County Community Development director Ami Huffman come discuss details with them. He also noted that he understood Aker’s intentions, but he worries the state would see it as a waste of money. Commissioners then approved giving the $33,000 to the project.

In other business, commissioners:

•Approved a paper supply bid for $2,200 from Four-U office supply.

•OK’d claims, including: $821.75 for the Affordable Care Act reporting; $16,800 from the Bluff Point Wind Energy Center funds for the Jay County Historical Society to buy the property adjacent to the Historical Museum; $7,454.08 for the Jay County Fair bathroom project; $3,719 for the regular AccuMed for Jay County Emergency Medical Service; and four different road conversion invoices for a total $147,619.81.

•Appointed Nicole Winkles to the Wabash River Heritage Commission.

•Gave permission to county engineer Dan Watson to pave county road 600 South from county road 800 West to Redkey City Limits. The approximate half mile will cost about $62,500.

•Reviewed fuel bids for the rest of this year through October 2021 with highway superintendent Donnie Corn. The two prices they discussed, $1.43 per gallon (which will fluctuate) and $1.49 per gallon (a fixed price), are subject to change with the market before a bid is chosen, Corn added. Leonhard noted he thinks commissioners should choose the fixed price in case gas prices skyrocket. If the market goes down, though, the county could spend more than necessary, Aker reminded him. Commissioners decided to review the contracts and decide next meeting.

•Looked at bids for a truck for the highway department. A 2021 Western Star came to $104,639, and a 2021 International came to $96,586. Commissioners decided to review these bids for later approval.

•Addressed a previous meeting discussion about hiring a new maintenance worker for Jay County Jail and decided it was not feasible with the current bills. In time, prices from Havel, a maintenance and repair business branching from the Fortune 500 company EMCOR, will increase and it may be necessary to change course then, Leonhard noted.

•Set an executive committee meeting this Friday at about 3 p.m.

•Told Culy she could use the county credit card to buy snacks for the yearly wellness visit, which is coming up on Dec. 1 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.