County plans to seek grant

County officials are applying for a state grant that, if accepted, will help fund construction of a new Jay Emergency Medical Service and health department building.

Jay County Commissioners on Monday agreed to allocate up to $10,000 to Jay County Development Corporation for a wage study that is required to apply for a grant offered through Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. County officials hope to use the grant funding for a new JEMS base and health department facility.

Commissioners also agreed Monday to reinstate the 80-hour sick leave available to county employees from last year and approved a memorandum of understanding with Jay School Corporation for its school resource officer and therapy dog.

The Community Development Block Grant for public facilities grant monies would be used to construct a joint building for Jay Emergency Medical Service’s Portland base and Jay County Health Department. (Communities can apply for a maximum of $500,000 for all projects, according to the state website.)

Commissioner Chad Aker said the last county wage study was conducted in 2004, at which time it cost about $2,500. He said he wasn’t sure with inflation how much that has cost has increased.

Commissioners OK’d Jay County Development Corporation to move forward with soliciting bids for the process. JCDC executive director Travis Richards then noted the application is due Oct. 15. The income survey, which may include phone calls or door-to-door surveys, needs to be completed by December.

“It can be a lengthy process,” said JCDC administrative assistant Jodi Hayes.

Commissioners authorized Jay County Development Corporation to sign a wage study agreement not to exceed $10,000.

The extra sick leave policy was put in place in March 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It includes leave for those who have COVID-19 or those taking care of a family member diagnosed with the virus.

“Now that we have the second round, we have employees affected by this,” said Aker.

The resolution is retroactive to July 1 and will stay in effect through the end of 2021. Commissioners will reassess the situation at that time.

“We just don’t know when this is going to hit or end, if it’s going to end, (if) another variant’s going to come out, (if) we’re going to have more problems, we just don’t know,” Aker said.

Also Monday, commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with Jay School Corporation for its school resource officer and a new therapy dog. (The black labrador named Jack is currently in training.)

McGalliard voiced opposition to the dog, noting liabilities associated with having a canine on school property.

“I’m fine with everything except for the dog,” he said. “I’m just not comfortable with the county taking possession of something we didn’t ask for and really don’t need ourselves. Bill has done a good job of trying to protect us, but we’re still open to some liability.”

Aker said the county has covered its own liability as much as possible in relation to the Jack.

According to the resolution, Jay Schools will be responsible for all costs incurred by the dog, including medical and liability insurance. It also states: “… Jay Schools agrees to defend, indemnify and hold the handler, the Sheriff and the Sheriff’s Department, and the County (including its council, employees, and agents) harmless from any suit, cost, loss, damage or expense (including reasonable attorney fees) arising out of any claim, demand, costs or judgment relating to … Jack, including any bite or act of aggression … unless determined by a finder of law or fact …”

Commissioners also agreed to update the county’s code book. County auditor Anna Culy pointed out it has been seven years since the county’s last codification of its resolutions and ordinances. It has previously used American Legal Publishing for the process, and she said it will cost between $5,000 and $6,000.

In other business, commissioners Aker, McGalliard and Journay:

•Agreed to request Core Facilities Inc. president Matthew Stechly present them prices for his maintenance supervision services, with options for visiting county buildings on a semi-annual and an annual basis. (Stechly proposed a contract with the county with quarterly visits.)

•Heard from Jay County Sheriff Dwane Ford the drainage tile below Jay County Sheriff’s Office is in need of work. Aker suggested Ford start gathering quotes for the process.

•Agreed to pay $605 to ERS Wireless to make repairs to the courthouse tornado sirens as well as check other county tornado sirens.

•Heard from JEMS directors Gary Barnett and John McFarland their department will be seeking bids next year for a new billing company.

•OK’d Emergency Management Agency deputy director Sam Rhodehamel to sign her department’s claims and payroll as necessary in absence of director Amy Blakely.

•Authorized Synergetic Resources Integration services (SRI) to facilitate the upcoming certificate sale.

•Approved a right-of-way permit from Comcast to complete work along Lutes East Drive.

•OK’d Culy to use the county credit card to purchase drinks and snacks for the county employees’ free health screening scheduled for Dec. 7 at Jay County Courthouse. (Employees can choose to upgrade their package for a fee.)