June 15, 2021 at 5:10 p.m.
Funds OK’d for library project
Commissioners approve additional $$ to cover expansion
Funds OK’d for library project
Cutbacks to the Pennville library expansion may not be necessary.
Jay County Commissioners agreed Monday to pay for the extra $93,500 overage using economic development funds from wind farm projects.
The decision hinges on approval from Jay County Council, which already approved the initial request of $50,000. (If council does not approve the higher amount, commissioners also OK’d the $50,000 request.)
Also Monday, commissioners signed an economic development agreement with sustainable energy company Invenergy for its proposed Skycrest Solar facility.
About 10 Pennville residents joined Jay County Development Corporation executive director Travis Richards at the meeting Monday. Bids for the library expansion project were estimated about $350,000 last year, he noted.
In April, the lowest bid came in at more than $443,000 from Muhlenkamp Building Corporation. (Richards explained material costs have increased significantly because of the coronavirus pandemic.)
Original plans for the facility at 195 N. Union St. in Pennville included expanding it by about 1,700 square feet from its current 1,000 square feet with a new structure to the south, a breezeway/entrance between the old and new buildings and two new bathrooms. (The project, which also includes a parking lot, is mainly being funded by the $333,000 awarded to the Jay! Region for being a finalist in the 2019 Stellar Communities process. Commissioners also provided a 10% match.)
When the bids came in higher than expected, JCDC collaborated with Pennville residents to change three factors from the original project design, saving just over $58,400. Those variables included switching from brick to vinyl siding, downgrading windows and doors, and removing the parking lot addition entirely.
Richards requested commissioners approve using $50,000 in economic development funds from Bluff Point Wind Energy Center provided to JCDC, specifically those allotted for infrastructure.
Jay County Council approved the request unanimously Wednesday, and Pennville town council president Alicia Corwin said the town would contribute the extra $1,600. JCDC board members also voted unanimously in favor of contributing the $50,000 to the project, excluding an abstention from commissioner Brian McGalliard.
On Monday, he spoke in support of the project.
“I don’t think the Town of Pennville residents should be punished for the cost going up,” McGalliard said. “I’d like to see it funded as originally planned.”
Commissioners Chad Aker and McGalliard, absent Rex Journay, voted to provide the $93,500 to allow the project to move forward as originally planned.
Commissioners also signed the economic development agreement for Skycrest Solar, a solar energy center and located on 2,500 acres in Penn and Jackson Townships. About $1.75 million in economic development payments will be made to the county over the course of four years, the first coming when construction begins.
Jay County Council approved the agreement Wednesday along with a tax abatement. Jay County Plan Commission also found Invenergy to be compliant with established solar ordinance regulations.
Also Monday, commissioners OK’d a request to use $30,000 in Jay County Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) funds for Regional Economic Acceleration Development Initiative, a matching grant program offered through Indiana Economic Development Corporation. The decision moves next to the Jay County EDIT Advisory Committee.
The initiative is intended to promote investments attracting talent and economic growth. (Richards noted it may be used in Jay County for housing, early childhood development, child care or workforce development.) Seven counties in east central Indiana will be participating together as a region in the grant process. Jay County’s funds will combine with other counties’ contributions to total more than $100,000 going toward the program.
Commissioners also agreed to draft an ordinance making the intersection of county roads 400 South and 250 West a four-way stop. (Currently there are only stop signs for traffic on county road 400 South.)
They also agreed to draft a letter to state Rep. J.D. Prescott. Aker and McGalliard explained they hope to get Prescott’s assistance to put stop signs on Indiana 67 at the intersection with Tyson Road near Jay County High School. (A formal request will need to be submitted to Indiana Department of Transportation.)
Core Facilities Inc. president Matthew Stechly presented quotes for a new commercial dishwasher and heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit for Jay County Jail. Commissioners accepted a $24,742.50 quote from Tinkels Inc., a restaurant supply outlet in Fort Wayne, for the dishwasher. They also accepted a $6,155.97 quote from Berne-based Don Myers Plumbing and Heating Inc. for the HVAC unit.
In other news, commissioners Aker and McGalliard:
•Entered into a memorandum of understanding with the City of Portland for the proposed Meridian Street sewer project designed to help mitigate downtown flooding. (The $1.3 million sewer line planned for the downtown area should help relieve Millers Branch and lessen the flooding between Main and North streets.)
•Heard from public health coordinator Amy Blakely that Jay County Health Department will be receiving 24 hand sanitizing stations. They will be offered to Jay County Fair Board and Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association for use at their events.
•OK’d Jay County Health Department to seek an insurance reimbursement grant from the federal government for coronavirus vaccine administrative costs. The department has administered just over 5,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine to date, Blakely said.
•Approved a $146,811 request from Jay County Community Correction Office director Yvette Weiland for its annual state funding grant.
•Heard a mid-year review of the county’s insurance plan and learned claims skyrocketed last year. (The county has been using Physicians Health Plan of Fort Wayne for insurance for the last four years.) Commissioners will be asked to renew the insurance plan contract for county employees in coming months.
•OK’d the highway department to donate equipment to Portland Fire Department for training purposes.
•Appointed Steve Ford to the Jay County Regional Sewer District board through December 2023.
Jay County Commissioners agreed Monday to pay for the extra $93,500 overage using economic development funds from wind farm projects.
The decision hinges on approval from Jay County Council, which already approved the initial request of $50,000. (If council does not approve the higher amount, commissioners also OK’d the $50,000 request.)
Also Monday, commissioners signed an economic development agreement with sustainable energy company Invenergy for its proposed Skycrest Solar facility.
About 10 Pennville residents joined Jay County Development Corporation executive director Travis Richards at the meeting Monday. Bids for the library expansion project were estimated about $350,000 last year, he noted.
In April, the lowest bid came in at more than $443,000 from Muhlenkamp Building Corporation. (Richards explained material costs have increased significantly because of the coronavirus pandemic.)
Original plans for the facility at 195 N. Union St. in Pennville included expanding it by about 1,700 square feet from its current 1,000 square feet with a new structure to the south, a breezeway/entrance between the old and new buildings and two new bathrooms. (The project, which also includes a parking lot, is mainly being funded by the $333,000 awarded to the Jay! Region for being a finalist in the 2019 Stellar Communities process. Commissioners also provided a 10% match.)
When the bids came in higher than expected, JCDC collaborated with Pennville residents to change three factors from the original project design, saving just over $58,400. Those variables included switching from brick to vinyl siding, downgrading windows and doors, and removing the parking lot addition entirely.
Richards requested commissioners approve using $50,000 in economic development funds from Bluff Point Wind Energy Center provided to JCDC, specifically those allotted for infrastructure.
Jay County Council approved the request unanimously Wednesday, and Pennville town council president Alicia Corwin said the town would contribute the extra $1,600. JCDC board members also voted unanimously in favor of contributing the $50,000 to the project, excluding an abstention from commissioner Brian McGalliard.
On Monday, he spoke in support of the project.
“I don’t think the Town of Pennville residents should be punished for the cost going up,” McGalliard said. “I’d like to see it funded as originally planned.”
Commissioners Chad Aker and McGalliard, absent Rex Journay, voted to provide the $93,500 to allow the project to move forward as originally planned.
Commissioners also signed the economic development agreement for Skycrest Solar, a solar energy center and located on 2,500 acres in Penn and Jackson Townships. About $1.75 million in economic development payments will be made to the county over the course of four years, the first coming when construction begins.
Jay County Council approved the agreement Wednesday along with a tax abatement. Jay County Plan Commission also found Invenergy to be compliant with established solar ordinance regulations.
Also Monday, commissioners OK’d a request to use $30,000 in Jay County Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) funds for Regional Economic Acceleration Development Initiative, a matching grant program offered through Indiana Economic Development Corporation. The decision moves next to the Jay County EDIT Advisory Committee.
The initiative is intended to promote investments attracting talent and economic growth. (Richards noted it may be used in Jay County for housing, early childhood development, child care or workforce development.) Seven counties in east central Indiana will be participating together as a region in the grant process. Jay County’s funds will combine with other counties’ contributions to total more than $100,000 going toward the program.
Commissioners also agreed to draft an ordinance making the intersection of county roads 400 South and 250 West a four-way stop. (Currently there are only stop signs for traffic on county road 400 South.)
They also agreed to draft a letter to state Rep. J.D. Prescott. Aker and McGalliard explained they hope to get Prescott’s assistance to put stop signs on Indiana 67 at the intersection with Tyson Road near Jay County High School. (A formal request will need to be submitted to Indiana Department of Transportation.)
Core Facilities Inc. president Matthew Stechly presented quotes for a new commercial dishwasher and heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit for Jay County Jail. Commissioners accepted a $24,742.50 quote from Tinkels Inc., a restaurant supply outlet in Fort Wayne, for the dishwasher. They also accepted a $6,155.97 quote from Berne-based Don Myers Plumbing and Heating Inc. for the HVAC unit.
In other news, commissioners Aker and McGalliard:
•Entered into a memorandum of understanding with the City of Portland for the proposed Meridian Street sewer project designed to help mitigate downtown flooding. (The $1.3 million sewer line planned for the downtown area should help relieve Millers Branch and lessen the flooding between Main and North streets.)
•Heard from public health coordinator Amy Blakely that Jay County Health Department will be receiving 24 hand sanitizing stations. They will be offered to Jay County Fair Board and Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association for use at their events.
•OK’d Jay County Health Department to seek an insurance reimbursement grant from the federal government for coronavirus vaccine administrative costs. The department has administered just over 5,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine to date, Blakely said.
•Approved a $146,811 request from Jay County Community Correction Office director Yvette Weiland for its annual state funding grant.
•Heard a mid-year review of the county’s insurance plan and learned claims skyrocketed last year. (The county has been using Physicians Health Plan of Fort Wayne for insurance for the last four years.) Commissioners will be asked to renew the insurance plan contract for county employees in coming months.
•OK’d the highway department to donate equipment to Portland Fire Department for training purposes.
•Appointed Steve Ford to the Jay County Regional Sewer District board through December 2023.
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD