July 22, 2021 at 4:30 p.m.
Funds approved
Council OKs $ for animal control
Funds approved
The county has committed funds toward a new animal shelter.
Jay County Council agreed Wednesday to commit $275,000 in Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) funds toward the proposed project estimated at more than $949,000.
Jay County EDIT Advisory Committee recommended the action last year. Jay County Commissioners approved the funding request June 23. Jay County Humane Society will next approach Portland and Dunkirk city councils in order to secure more funding, as well as start its own fundraising campaign for the remaining amount.
Also Wednesday, council agreed to raise county employees’ wages by between 2% to 6%, depending on the job classification.
Bob Taylor of Muncie-based Taylor Architects reviewed the same preliminary architectural designs for the animal control facility as those presented at the commissioners’ meeting June 23.
The animal shelter plans have been simplified from their original form, reducing the expected construction cost from $1.14 million to at least $949,500. (Taylor said the construction cost is hard to pin down because of increased material costs, estimating it could be anywhere from $728,820 to $809,800.)
That price tag doesn’t include the acquisition of land, although animal control task force chair Julie Forcum indicated the group is hoping to have the land donated.
With about 4,049 square feet, the proposed structure would provide designated zones for dogs, cats, staff and animal care and control. It would hold 26 dogs and 120 cats –– about 10 dogs and 80 cats fewer than original plans.
The current humane society building at 1313 Shadeland Avenue, Portland, can only house 12 dogs and a small number of cats. (When constructed, it was intended for housing dogs only.)
Proposed plans also include three separate heating, ventilation and air conditioning units for the dog, cat and human areas. Taylor explained separate systems are intended to prevent spreading infectious diseases and also give the shelter temporary back-up units if one system shuts down.
“The animals there want to be treated just like you treat your animals at home,” Taylor said.
The humane society will still need to raise an approximate $674,500 before factoring in Portland and Dunkirk city councils’ potential contributions.
The annual contract currently drafted between Jay County and the humane society –– it hinges on Portland and Dunkirk city councils’ contributions before being signed and going into effect –– states the animal control service will be provided to all Jay municipalities. (Currently, the county has an agreement with both the humane society and Midwest Pet Refuge for animal control services after former animal control officers Bill and Kathy Fields retired last year.)
Council member Matt Minnich asked if there was a precedent set to giving county dollars to a private entity. County auditor Anna Culy mentioned Jay County Fairgrounds, Arts Place and local municipality projects.
Council member Ted Champ noted the county’s animal control service is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Council then unanimously approved contributing $275,000 in EDIT funds toward the project.
Also Wednesday, council discussed raises for all county employees. It also uncapped longevity from its $2,000 limit imposed last year and agreed to increase coroner deputies’ pay to $200 per call.
Raises are being implemented in order to bring wages closer to figures from a pay plan survey completed by consulting firm Waggoner, Irwin, Scheele & Associates. After reviewing the proposed changes from the personnel committee (varying from 2% to 6%, depending on the job classification), Newton brought up the pay gap for county law enforcement with Portland Police Department.
“We’ve got a problem,” he said. “We need to address this –– we implemented this plan in 2011, and my personal opinion is we’re not even close to where we should be.”
Culy noted the county has many jobs to cover and also mentioned financial difficulties it faced in 2015, when the general fund totaled only about $300,000. Operating on a $7 million or $8 million budget, the county couldn’t continue with such a tight balance, she noted.
“Another thing, the budget: we need to hold these elected officials and department heads accountable for their budget,” Newton continued. “When they go over, there should be consequences. Anywhere else, there’s consequences.”
The county can give higher raises to county employees next year, although overall county balances may go down as a result, Culy explained.
Newton suggested raising three job classifications by 1% from the recommendations made –– those include sheriff’s department employees (anywhere from 5% to 5.5%), Emergency Medical Technicians and advanced EMTS (4%) and those working in the retirement center, highway and surveyor departments and maintenance positions (6%).
Council approved the updated raise amounts.
In other business, council members Mike Rockwell, Faron Parr, Jeanne Houchins, Minnich, Champ and Newton:
•Heard council member Amy Barrett has resigned (see related story).
•OK’d Jay County Development Corporation to use $50,000 in previously allocated wind farm economic development funds for Launch Jay, a “Shark Tank”-style competition for local entrepreneurs looking to start or expand their businesses.
•Released remaining funds allocated to the Town of Salamonia (approximately $3,335) from Bluff Point Wind Energy Center economic payments in order for the town to fix the Salamonia Schoolhouse Community Center roof. Council also requested other municipalities with remaining monies from the allocation –– Redkey, Pennville and Bryant –– submit a written request by 5 p.m. Sept. 30 describing how they plan to use the money.
•Made $391,600 in additional appropriations, including: $143,444 for the Penn Township Public Library project; $100,000 for COVID-19 equipment and other fees; more than $73,000 for a Community Corrections grant; $40,000 for the Regional Economical Acceleration and Development Initiative grant; and $13,552 for a new Jay County Courthouse custodian position.
*Approved just under $182,000 in transfers, including $150,000 from the COVID-19 equipment fund to the insurance building liability fund and $10,000 from the Jay County Community Corrections home detention officer fund to the deputy director fund.
•Canceled the Jay County Personnel Committee meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. today.
•Met Christy Shauver, the new director of Jay County Community Development.
Jay County Council agreed Wednesday to commit $275,000 in Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) funds toward the proposed project estimated at more than $949,000.
Jay County EDIT Advisory Committee recommended the action last year. Jay County Commissioners approved the funding request June 23. Jay County Humane Society will next approach Portland and Dunkirk city councils in order to secure more funding, as well as start its own fundraising campaign for the remaining amount.
Also Wednesday, council agreed to raise county employees’ wages by between 2% to 6%, depending on the job classification.
Bob Taylor of Muncie-based Taylor Architects reviewed the same preliminary architectural designs for the animal control facility as those presented at the commissioners’ meeting June 23.
The animal shelter plans have been simplified from their original form, reducing the expected construction cost from $1.14 million to at least $949,500. (Taylor said the construction cost is hard to pin down because of increased material costs, estimating it could be anywhere from $728,820 to $809,800.)
That price tag doesn’t include the acquisition of land, although animal control task force chair Julie Forcum indicated the group is hoping to have the land donated.
With about 4,049 square feet, the proposed structure would provide designated zones for dogs, cats, staff and animal care and control. It would hold 26 dogs and 120 cats –– about 10 dogs and 80 cats fewer than original plans.
The current humane society building at 1313 Shadeland Avenue, Portland, can only house 12 dogs and a small number of cats. (When constructed, it was intended for housing dogs only.)
Proposed plans also include three separate heating, ventilation and air conditioning units for the dog, cat and human areas. Taylor explained separate systems are intended to prevent spreading infectious diseases and also give the shelter temporary back-up units if one system shuts down.
“The animals there want to be treated just like you treat your animals at home,” Taylor said.
The humane society will still need to raise an approximate $674,500 before factoring in Portland and Dunkirk city councils’ potential contributions.
The annual contract currently drafted between Jay County and the humane society –– it hinges on Portland and Dunkirk city councils’ contributions before being signed and going into effect –– states the animal control service will be provided to all Jay municipalities. (Currently, the county has an agreement with both the humane society and Midwest Pet Refuge for animal control services after former animal control officers Bill and Kathy Fields retired last year.)
Council member Matt Minnich asked if there was a precedent set to giving county dollars to a private entity. County auditor Anna Culy mentioned Jay County Fairgrounds, Arts Place and local municipality projects.
Council member Ted Champ noted the county’s animal control service is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Council then unanimously approved contributing $275,000 in EDIT funds toward the project.
Also Wednesday, council discussed raises for all county employees. It also uncapped longevity from its $2,000 limit imposed last year and agreed to increase coroner deputies’ pay to $200 per call.
Raises are being implemented in order to bring wages closer to figures from a pay plan survey completed by consulting firm Waggoner, Irwin, Scheele & Associates. After reviewing the proposed changes from the personnel committee (varying from 2% to 6%, depending on the job classification), Newton brought up the pay gap for county law enforcement with Portland Police Department.
“We’ve got a problem,” he said. “We need to address this –– we implemented this plan in 2011, and my personal opinion is we’re not even close to where we should be.”
Culy noted the county has many jobs to cover and also mentioned financial difficulties it faced in 2015, when the general fund totaled only about $300,000. Operating on a $7 million or $8 million budget, the county couldn’t continue with such a tight balance, she noted.
“Another thing, the budget: we need to hold these elected officials and department heads accountable for their budget,” Newton continued. “When they go over, there should be consequences. Anywhere else, there’s consequences.”
The county can give higher raises to county employees next year, although overall county balances may go down as a result, Culy explained.
Newton suggested raising three job classifications by 1% from the recommendations made –– those include sheriff’s department employees (anywhere from 5% to 5.5%), Emergency Medical Technicians and advanced EMTS (4%) and those working in the retirement center, highway and surveyor departments and maintenance positions (6%).
Council approved the updated raise amounts.
In other business, council members Mike Rockwell, Faron Parr, Jeanne Houchins, Minnich, Champ and Newton:
•Heard council member Amy Barrett has resigned (see related story).
•OK’d Jay County Development Corporation to use $50,000 in previously allocated wind farm economic development funds for Launch Jay, a “Shark Tank”-style competition for local entrepreneurs looking to start or expand their businesses.
•Released remaining funds allocated to the Town of Salamonia (approximately $3,335) from Bluff Point Wind Energy Center economic payments in order for the town to fix the Salamonia Schoolhouse Community Center roof. Council also requested other municipalities with remaining monies from the allocation –– Redkey, Pennville and Bryant –– submit a written request by 5 p.m. Sept. 30 describing how they plan to use the money.
•Made $391,600 in additional appropriations, including: $143,444 for the Penn Township Public Library project; $100,000 for COVID-19 equipment and other fees; more than $73,000 for a Community Corrections grant; $40,000 for the Regional Economical Acceleration and Development Initiative grant; and $13,552 for a new Jay County Courthouse custodian position.
*Approved just under $182,000 in transfers, including $150,000 from the COVID-19 equipment fund to the insurance building liability fund and $10,000 from the Jay County Community Corrections home detention officer fund to the deputy director fund.
•Canceled the Jay County Personnel Committee meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. today.
•Met Christy Shauver, the new director of Jay County Community Development.
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