Cities, towns set to receive funding

Local municipalities may be receiving extra county funds.

Jay County Commissioners agreed to allocate $400,000 in economic development monies to Jay cities and towns. The decision hinges on approval from Jay County Council at its meeting Wednesday.

Commissioner Chad Aker noted the county has about $1.3 million in economic development dollars not yet designated, and it will receive another $390,000 payment from Bitter Ridge Wind Farm in the spring.

Aker suggested commissioners allocate a chunk of the funding to local municipalities, with Portland and Dunkirk each receiving $100,000, and Redkey, Pennville, Salamonia and Bryant each receiving $50,000.

Aker and former commissioners Chuck Huffman and Mike Leonhard also previously allocated wind farm economic development monies to local communities, with the last of those dollars set to be spent by the end of 2021.

Like before, each municipality must seek county approval before using the funds. Past projects have included road and construction work, such as repairs to Salamonia Schoolhouse Community Center and as a supplement to the Pennville Library project.

The deadline to spend the new allotment would be Dec. 31, 2024.

Commissioners agreed Oct. 25 to use about $84,600 in federal American Rescue Plan Act monies for repairs to Dunkirk City Pool. That decision will be rescinded subject to Jay County Council’s approval of the proposed economic development dollars allocation to municipalities. Instead, commissioner Brian McGalliard explained, Dunkirk may use the economic development monies to cover pool expenses.

The county will invest the funds previously committed to Dunkirk by commissioners into some of its other projects.

Also Monday, commissioners agreed to move forward in renewing the county’s employee insurance plan with Physicians Health Plan of Fort Wayne in 2022.

Monthly premiums will be increasing by about 11%, and there will also be a 4% increase for dental, vision and life insurance, noted Jessica Clayton of insurance company OneDigital. (That still includes the 40% refund agreement included in last year’s contract.)

Clayton explained the expense ratio for Jay County between September 2020 and August 2021 came in at 200%, with the target range for insurance groups being around 70% to 80%.

Those rates are not necessarily linked to the coronavirus pandemic, she said, but rather are the reflection of a few high claimants with varying illnesses through the fiscal year.

“I know this could’ve been a lot worse,” noted Aker.

By comparison, Clayton said, Anthem Insurance offered a 44% increase with no health reimbursement arrangements and higher office visit and prescription copays. Insurance companies United Healthcare and Cigna decline to quote the county.

County attorney Bill Hinkle informed commissioners that Jay County Council will meet with representatives from Leeward Renewable Energy and Scout Clean Energy at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Tentative plans are for both renewable energy companies to seek final tax abatement approval and sign economic development agreements for their proposed solar farms in Jay County.

Leeward Renewable Energy is planning Rose Gold Solar, a $150 million, 150-megawatt facility on approximately 1,340 acres just north of Dunkirk. Scout’s plans call for the $100 million, 100-megawatt Sun Chief located on approximately 1,200 acres in the same area as Bitter Ridge Wind Farm, which was completed northeast of Redkey last year.

Over 35 years, Rose Gold Solar is planned to generate just under $42 million in property taxes, and Sun Chief Solar is expected to produce more than $24 million in property taxes.

Commissioners agreed to extend fiber optic internet to Jay County Highway Barn and Jay County Country Living (formerly Jay County Retirement Center) for $39,790.

A 60-month internet contract through Community Fiber Solutions will cost the county approximately $129.99 per month for high-speed services to the highway barn. (That does not include services at Jay County Country Living.)

Aker, McGalliard and Rex Journay OK’d Jay County Sheriff Dwane Ford to replace a vehicle after it was smashed in a rear-ended collision on Votaw Street recently. (Its cost will come out of the sheriff’s budget.)

They gave 911 director Bill Baldwin permission to replace the call recording system at Jay County Sheriff’s Office with a leased system through Michigan-based Equature for $4,478.95 annually, with a $1,000 installation fee.

Commissioners also OK’d Jay County Health Department environmentalist and administrator Heath Butz to apply for a $110,000 grant to be used in COVID-19 efforts.

The year-long grant would cover hiring an extra temporary employee to help with Jay Schools health operations, such as quarantining and isolation, as well as assist in routine vaccines and vaccination clinics.

Gary Hendershot of Jay County Community Corrections asked commissioners if the current resolution –– it allows up to 80 hours of paid time off for those who have COVID-19 — could be amended to include those who are not feeling well following the coronavirus vaccine or booster shot. Commissioners agreed to discuss and revisit the idea at a later date.

In other business, Aker, McGalliard and Journay:

•Learned from Jay County Highway Department superintendent Donnie Corn that, according to a letter from Indiana Department of Transportation, 11 bridges in Jay County need to be replaced and two bridges need to be repaired.

•Agreed to move forward with vacating bridge 134, which crosses the Salamonie River on county road 200 West, just north of U.S. Aggregates. Commissioners plan to host an open meeting for residents living near the bridge at 9:15 a.m. Dec. 13. (U.S. Aggregates plans to repair the bridge and use it to transport material from its new site rather than using Indiana 67.)

•Enacted an ordinance setting the speed limit at 30 mph on county road 200 West between county road 75 South and Tyson Road.

•Agreed to pay Cameron Clark of Inspired Engineering $860 monthly for information technology services at Jay County Sheriff’s Office.

•Paid a $5,500 claim for animal control services from Midwest Pet Refuge.

•Accepted a bid through Ferrellgas at $1.999 per gallon for supplying gas to Jay County Country Living.

•Heard from Jerry Leach of rural Dunkirk, who voiced his frustrations with the proposed Rose Gold Solar farm and its proximity to his property. “I just feel like it’s kind of hopeless, but I’m trying,” Leach said. Commissioners suggested he visit Jay County Plan Commission to discuss potential amendments the current ordinance, which was enacted in 2019. (According to the ordinance, setbacks for solar facilities are 25 feet from property lines of non-participating landowners, and solar farms are required to have a 25-foot-wide buffer consisting of vegetation or foliage, along with a fence.)

•OK’d hosting Winterfest activities Dec. 19 and 20 at Jay County Courthouse.