Housing feasibility study discussed

Housing is back in discussion.

Jay County Commissioners agreed to take a feasibility study under advisement Monday for about 160 acres of county-owned land in rural Portland. Depending on the study’s results and pending federal legislation, it may evolve into the development of new housing in Jay County.

Also Monday, commissioners approved economic development agreements with renewable energy companies Leeward Renewable Energy and Scout Clean Energy.

John Speidel Jr. and Michelle Watts, both of civil engineering firm Butler, Fairman and Seufert, discussed Monday potentially developing new housing just south and east of Jay County Highway Department. They proposed doing a $14,500 feasibility study on the land, and Jay County Council president Jeanne Houchins suggested taking the cost out of economic development income tax (EDIT) funding.

Houchins presented a recap of the county’s progress on making a spending plan for incoming American Rescue Plan Act dollars.

Jay County is set to receive just under $4 million in funding allocated for COVID-19 relief. Several investments were proposed by both council and commissioners in an August joint session, including affordable housing, daycare, cybersecurity, broadband, ventilation or repair projects at county buildings, support for local businesses and upgrades to radios for local emergency personnel. (It was later indicated that purchasing new radios does not fit within American Rescue Plan Act guidelines.)

One project proposed earlier this month is to renovate the former Judge Haynes Elementary School building in Portland into a new child care facility. (The county’s proposed contribution would be $975,000.)

Questions have popped up in previous joint sessions between council and commissioners about the type of housing allowed using American Rescue Plan Act dollars.

Currently, guidelines for the funding state it can be used for “affordable housing” or for “housing the unhoused.” However, there is legislation in progress at the federal level that may expand usage of the funding in respect to infrastructure.

The U.S. Senate passed the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act on Oct. 19. It next moves to the U.S. House of Representatives for approval. According to U.S. Congress’ website, the proposed bill “allows states, tribes, territories, and localities to use certain COVID-19 relief funds for new categories of spending, including for natural disasters and infrastructure projects.”

The suggested feasibility study would include estimates such as initial costs for the project. It would also check if the land has the necessary access to utilities and determine whether or not the land is a “good fit for residential subdivision,” according to Watts.

Because the county owns the land, Watts and Speidel repeated, it has the power to decide what type of housing is constructed.

“You’re in a very unique situation to where you own the property, you want to put in residential development, you potentially have the funding to do it, which allows you to keep control of what goes in out there,” Speidel said. “If you were just to sell that to a developer … they would put in basically whatever they wanted and not necessarily what you guys wanted or what the community needs.”

Commissioner Rex Journay shared his concerns with the county being involved in housing development.

“I have some very big reservations about the county doing anything. I think it should be private,” he said.

“But the biggest thing is here, here’s this plot of ground that we can potentially use …”

Watts suggested talking to developers and realtors in order to find out when the county should hand off the project to another entity. The county could, for instance, build the infrastructure and then offer it to a housing developer.

“There’s a lot to be figured out,” she said.

County officials will review the proposed contract and come to a decision at a later date.

Also Monday, commissioners approved economic development agreements for Rose Gold Solar and Sun Chief Solar projects. (Jay County Council approved economic development agreements and tax abatements for the projects Nov. 10.)

Leeward is planning a $150 million, 150-megawatt facility (Rose Gold Solar) on about 1,340 acres north of Dunkirk. Scout, which also operates Bitter Ridge Wind Farm in southwest Jay County, has plans for a $100 million, 100-megawatt facility (Sun Chief Solar) on 1,200 acres near the existing wind farm northeast of Redkey.

According to the agreements, each company will contribute $13,000 per megawatt in separate payments to the county. Leeward will pay $1.95 million over a four-year period, and Scout will give $1.3 million in five installments. (The first economic development payment will come from each company after it has started generating electricity at its new farm.)

Commissioners heard from Jay County clerk Jon Eads, who suggested redrawing county council districts before the end of the year to account for fluctuating populations.

His suggestions were to move Knox Township from District 2 to District 1, Pike Township from District 4 to District 2 and moving Wabash Township from District 3 to District 4.

Currently, the districts are as follows:

•District 1 — Richland and Jefferson townships

•District 2 — Knox, Penn, Jackson and Green townships as well as the Wayne 2 precinct

•District 3 — Bearcreek and Wabash townships and the Wayne 1 and Wayne 3 precincts

•District 4 — Noble, Madison and Pike townships as well as the Wayne 4 and Wayne 7 precincts

County attorney Bill Hinkle was given the OK by commissioners to move forward with drafting an ordinance on the matter.

Commissioners also approved the health insurance plan for 2022.

The county is handling the brunt of the cost increase, commissioner Chad Aker noted, or approximately $100,000. Insurance premiums for employees will also go up about $2 per pay period.

In other business, commissioners Journay, McGalliard and Aker:

•Decided not to include vaccine or booster side effects in the coronavirus sick pay policy. (All county employees have up to 80 additional hours of sick pay available if they contract COVID-19. Those with side effects from the vaccine or booster may use regular sick leave, if necessary.)

•Heard from Ben Kapp of Texas-based Secure Tech Systems about an instant security notification system for Jay County Courthouse that sends a direct message to law enforcement radios. Kapp proposed a one-time cost of $13,425, which includes a two-year warranty. Commissioners agreed to seek other bids before making a decision.

•Agreed to advertise for bids on the leasable farm ground near Jay County Country Living (formerly Jay County Retirement Center). There are three parcels, all on separate leases, available.

•Signed an application for excavation in order to install fiber internet out to Jay County Highway Department and Jay County Country Living.

•Agreed to take a $115,992 bid for a 2023 Western Star truck from Stoops Automotive under advisement.

•Paid claims, including a quarterly claim for Lifestream services totaling $245,430.

•Signed an annual contract with Jay County Solid Waste Management District for the two recycling trailers available to the public in the Jay County Sheriff’s Office parking lot. (The agreement comes to about $250 per month for both trailers.)

•Appointed Tracy Carpenter to the Jay County Public Library Board.