Building discussed

Demolition of a dilapidated Portland building could lead to a new Main Street parking lot and relocation of a local business.

Portland Mayor John Boggs discussed possible plans for the building at 201 W. Main St. –– also known as the Bailey Building –– with Jay County Commissioners on Monday.

“I just think it’s time we have a long-term plan for the city,” Boggs said.

The eastern part of the structure has fallen into disrepair over the years, resulting in a safety hazard, noted commissioner Brian McGalliard.

A portion of the building has gone through tax sales a number of times, but it has never sold. The western storefront also belongs to the Greazy Pickle bar and restaurant.

Owners of the Greazy Pickle are willing to relocate the restaurant, Boggs said. (This would likely include contributing funds to make up for the business’ investments into the building, Boggs and McGalliard noted. Boggs mentioned one potential location for the relocation could be the former Bandidos building at 1604 N. Meridian St.)

Commissioner Chad Aker explained to Boggs that commissioners have discussed demolishing the building and turning it into a parking lot for Jay County Courthouse and/or Jay County Sheriff’s Office. The property could then someday be used for future jail expansion, if needed.

“I know parking’s a big key for the jail, but I think Main Street is a bad area for parking (in general),” Boggs said. “I think that property’s too valuable to be a parking lot.”

Aker again noted the need for more parking at the courthouse and jail. McGalliard agreed.

“The project is to get the building torn down and (then) figure out what to do with it in the future, because it needs to come down,” McGalliard said. “It’s a safety hazard right now, I mean, we’ve got glass falling everywhere.”

“Bricks falling everywhere,” interjected Aker.

No action was taken on the matter.

Commissioners also heard a request to pursue an assessment grant for Jay County from Bill Walters, executive director of East Central Indiana Regional Planning District.

The process for obtaining grant dollars to remove environmental hazards is split into two parts — identification and remediation. (One issue Walters mentioned could be addressed are the gas tanks at the former Swifty gas station lot at 803 N. Meridian St., Portland.) Grants for identification studies are easier to receive than those for remediation, he added.

“We just want to help in any way we can,” Walters said. “This assessment grant clears a lot away.”

Reasons for remediating land in the county may include removing “eyesores” or to clear the way for future expansions, noted commissioner Rex Journay.

Aker asked Walters how much it would cost to remove tanks from a former gas station. Walters estimated, depending on a number of factors, anywhere from $20,000 to $80,000.

East Central Indiana Regional Planning District also plans to pursue these dollars specifically for Jay and Blackford counties. Its board would be responsible for deciding how much of the grant goes to each, he explained. (Previously, Jay County handled its grants locally, according to Walters.) He requested commissioners review a memorandum of understanding with the planning district and sign it in order to begin the process.

Commissioners asked county attorney Bill Hinkle to review the document and agreed to consider it at a later date.

In other business, commissioners:

•Heard from Jay Emergency Medical Service director Gary Barnett that the number of emergency calls related to drug overdoses have been significantly lower than in past years.

•OK’d Jay County Emergency Management Agency director Amy Blakely and Jay County Sheriff Dwane Ford to pursue grants. Blakely is pursuing a salary reimbursement grant for about $18,000, the hazardous materials emergency preparedness program grant with a maximum amount of $15,000 and the emergency management performance grant with a maximum amount of $40,000. Ford is seeking a federal grant for purchasing more bulletproof vests. He explained each costs between $700 and $800, and his department is looking to purchase 14 new vests to replace their current expired vests.

•Gave permission to Jay County Courthouse superintendent Bruce Sutton to use a 2012 Ford F-250 owned by Jay County Highway Department. Sutton said he would use the vehicle for trash removal each week as well as removing snow from around the courthouse. (The highway department otherwise would have sold the vehicle in a county auction as soon as next year, highway superintendent Donnie Corn said.)

•Selected the following bids: $6,336.49 from D and D Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning for a new air conditioner at Jay County Country Living (formerly known as Jay County Retirement Center); $6,242.04 from Kleem Inc. of West Chester, Ohio, for 24 barricades to use on closed roads. (Corn noted several of the highway department’s road closed signs were stolen during the aftermath of the June tornado, and barricades would serve as an alternative to the signs. Each barricade is 8 feet wide and 6 feet tall); about $1,900 from Franklin Electric of Fort Wayne for upgrading to LED lights at the Dunkirk fire station and Dunkirk base for Jay Emergency Medical Service.

•Signed claims, including the following: approximately $82,000 for a downpayment on new video cameras at Jay County Jail; $5,782 for a new air conditioning unit at the jail; $4,500 contracted amount with Havel, an EMCOR company contracted for maintenance and systems at the jail; about $3,000 (out of designated town economic payments) for the Town of Salamonia to fix the roof at Salamonia Schoolhouse Community Center.

•Heard from Jay County Country Living (formerly Jay County Retirement Center) director Hope Confer that a groundhog chewed through the wiring harness in one of its vehicles. Commissioners suggested the highway department could fix the issue and said they would help make arrangements.

•Signed a contract with Haller & Colvin law firm for its services regarding a tax appeal case out of Dunkirk.