June 10, 2021 at 5:37 p.m.
Council gives OK to library funding
Request to use wind farm $ for project now moves to commissioners
Council gives OK to library funding
Extra funding to cover higher-than-expected construction costs for the expansion of the Pennville library took the next step in the approval process Wednesday.
Jay County Council OK’d a request from Jay County Development Corporation to use $50,000 it was allocated in wind farm economic development money to cover the additional costs. (The funding request also requires approval from Jay County Commissioners, who meet Monday.)
Also Wednesday, council approved a final tax abatement and economic agreement with Invenergy, a sustainable energy company planning a solar farm in Jay County (see related story), and sent a request to use $30,000 in Jay County Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) funds for a state matching grant to Jay County EDIT Advisory Board.
About 15 Pennville residents and JCDC executive director Travis Richards approached council with the request for extra funding for the library project. Richards cited the recent increase in material costs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The project began after Jay Region! was awarded $333,000 for being a finalist in the 2019 Stellar Communities designation, a multi-million dollar investment initiative headed by Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Jay County Commissioners also agreed to provide a 10% match for the project in August 2020.
Plans for the existing 1,000-square-foot structure at 195 N. Union St. originally included an additional structure to the south, a new parking lot, a breezeway/entrance between the old and new building and two new bathrooms. There was also discussion about updating the library’s internet service, adding more furniture and repainting the old building.
Construction bids were opened April 22. The lowest bid –– it came from Muhlenkamp Building Corporation –– came in at more than $443,000.
After reviewing the numbers, Pennville residents and others agreed on a few cutbacks to save money.
Richards listed three changes from the original project design that saved just over $58,400 — vinyl siding will be used instead of brick, window and doors will be downgraded and the parking lot addition will be removed from the project.
That left about $51,600 (including architect fees) unaccounted for.
He suggested using $50,000 from Bluff Point Wind Energy Center funds allocated by commissioner to JCDC for infrastructure. Council president Jeanne Houchins asked if the Town of Pennville would supply the remaining $1,600 in required funds. Pennville town president Alicia Corwin said it would.
“Is there any place we could come up with $12,000 to put brick on a building that’s going to last a long time?” asked council member Ted Champ. He noted vinyl siding would not last as long as brick.
“I’m not against this, but I don’t like to rush,” added council member Ray Newton. “And we’re not going to do the right thing for (finding) the cheapest way to get this project done.”
Council suggested holding off on the project for further discussion. It asked Richards for a timeline.
The town has 60 days from bid opening (April 22) to finalize a contract, Richards said. Construction must be completed by Sept. 2022 in order to meet grant guidelines.
An expansion is well overdue, Houchins said.
“We do service Penn Township, Jackson, Green, Knox, so it’s not just Pennville residents,” Corwin said. It’s that whole northwest corner –– they’re welcome to come to our library.”
Council unanimously approved the request to use the $50,000 for the project.
Also Wednesday, council OK’d a request to use $30,000 in EDIT funds for the county match and administration costs for the Regional Economic Acceleration Development Initiative. The grant offered through Indiana Economic Development Corporation is intended to promote investments attracting talent and economic growth.
Richards, who is representing the county in conjunction with East Central Indiana Regional Partnership, explained Jay, Blackford, Grant, Randolph, Delaware, Wayne and Henry counties will participate together as a region. Jay County’s match will combine with other counties’ contributions to total more than $100,000 going toward the 2:1 state match grant. Priorities for the region include workforce development, child care and housing.
Council also:
•Made the following additional appropriations: $750 for Jay Circuit Court postage, $20,141.42 for Jay County Drug Coalition, $1,482.13 for court translation services, $70,000 for Jay County Fairgrounds 4-H buildings upgrade, and $80,000 for Jay County Courthouse’s new boilers.
•Signed compliance forms with Minnich Poultry, Reier Pullets and NextEra Energy for tax abatements.
Jay County Council OK’d a request from Jay County Development Corporation to use $50,000 it was allocated in wind farm economic development money to cover the additional costs. (The funding request also requires approval from Jay County Commissioners, who meet Monday.)
Also Wednesday, council approved a final tax abatement and economic agreement with Invenergy, a sustainable energy company planning a solar farm in Jay County (see related story), and sent a request to use $30,000 in Jay County Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) funds for a state matching grant to Jay County EDIT Advisory Board.
About 15 Pennville residents and JCDC executive director Travis Richards approached council with the request for extra funding for the library project. Richards cited the recent increase in material costs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The project began after Jay Region! was awarded $333,000 for being a finalist in the 2019 Stellar Communities designation, a multi-million dollar investment initiative headed by Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Jay County Commissioners also agreed to provide a 10% match for the project in August 2020.
Plans for the existing 1,000-square-foot structure at 195 N. Union St. originally included an additional structure to the south, a new parking lot, a breezeway/entrance between the old and new building and two new bathrooms. There was also discussion about updating the library’s internet service, adding more furniture and repainting the old building.
Construction bids were opened April 22. The lowest bid –– it came from Muhlenkamp Building Corporation –– came in at more than $443,000.
After reviewing the numbers, Pennville residents and others agreed on a few cutbacks to save money.
Richards listed three changes from the original project design that saved just over $58,400 — vinyl siding will be used instead of brick, window and doors will be downgraded and the parking lot addition will be removed from the project.
That left about $51,600 (including architect fees) unaccounted for.
He suggested using $50,000 from Bluff Point Wind Energy Center funds allocated by commissioner to JCDC for infrastructure. Council president Jeanne Houchins asked if the Town of Pennville would supply the remaining $1,600 in required funds. Pennville town president Alicia Corwin said it would.
“Is there any place we could come up with $12,000 to put brick on a building that’s going to last a long time?” asked council member Ted Champ. He noted vinyl siding would not last as long as brick.
“I’m not against this, but I don’t like to rush,” added council member Ray Newton. “And we’re not going to do the right thing for (finding) the cheapest way to get this project done.”
Council suggested holding off on the project for further discussion. It asked Richards for a timeline.
The town has 60 days from bid opening (April 22) to finalize a contract, Richards said. Construction must be completed by Sept. 2022 in order to meet grant guidelines.
An expansion is well overdue, Houchins said.
“We do service Penn Township, Jackson, Green, Knox, so it’s not just Pennville residents,” Corwin said. It’s that whole northwest corner –– they’re welcome to come to our library.”
Council unanimously approved the request to use the $50,000 for the project.
Also Wednesday, council OK’d a request to use $30,000 in EDIT funds for the county match and administration costs for the Regional Economic Acceleration Development Initiative. The grant offered through Indiana Economic Development Corporation is intended to promote investments attracting talent and economic growth.
Richards, who is representing the county in conjunction with East Central Indiana Regional Partnership, explained Jay, Blackford, Grant, Randolph, Delaware, Wayne and Henry counties will participate together as a region. Jay County’s match will combine with other counties’ contributions to total more than $100,000 going toward the 2:1 state match grant. Priorities for the region include workforce development, child care and housing.
Council also:
•Made the following additional appropriations: $750 for Jay Circuit Court postage, $20,141.42 for Jay County Drug Coalition, $1,482.13 for court translation services, $70,000 for Jay County Fairgrounds 4-H buildings upgrade, and $80,000 for Jay County Courthouse’s new boilers.
•Signed compliance forms with Minnich Poultry, Reier Pullets and NextEra Energy for tax abatements.
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