Commissioners approve a new plan

The county has a capital improvement plan.

Jay County Commissioners approved a new two-year plan Monday.

Commissioners have been looking into developing a new plan for the county for months. In February, commissioners rescinded the five-year economic development income tax (EDIT) capital improvement plan, which was put together by Jay County Development Corporation and previously approved by county officials in 2020.

The plan approved Monday doesn’t specifically relate to how EDIT funds are distributed.

Commissioner president Chad Aker pointed out that commissioners have looked at capital improvement plans from other counties.

“Basically your capital improvement plan is going to be your list of projects that you eventually want to start checking off,” said Aker.

The plan approved Monday lists seven projects the county would like to work toward completing. They include: creating an initial loop for broadband, or approximately 233 miles of fiber internet, for $10 million with Mainstream Fiber (the county’s match would be $2 million); adding a new garage extension to Jay County Highway Department for $2.2 million; building a new facility for Jay County Solid Waste Management District for $1.6 million; constructing a public safety building for use by Jay Emergency Medical Service, Jay County Health Department and Jay County Coroner’s Office for $3 million; planning development of the 68 acres owned by the county within western Portland city limits along Indiana 67 for $200,000; purchasing new body cameras for law enforcement for $102,000; and investing in new radios for Jay Emergency Medical Service and Jay County Sheriff’s Office for $475,000. 

(Jay County Sheriff Ray Newton explained earlier in the meeting the radios are expected to cost anywhere from $600,000 to $900,000.)

The plan also suggests possible funding sources, such as grants or economic development dollars from solar and wind farms, for each project.

Aker pointed out the plan is a living document that is expected to be added to and modified over time. Commissioners will be reaching out to Jay County municipalities to learn about other projects that could be included in the plan, he added.

 Commissioner Brian McGalliard pointed out each project on the list isn’t guaranteed to be completed, noting that factor depends on funding and grants available.

Indiana code states “a county, city, or town that fails to adopt a capital improvement plan may not receive (1) its fractional amount of the additional revenue to be allocated for economic development purposes … for the year or years in which the unit does not have a plan … a unit fails to adopt a plan for a period of three (3) years, the balance in the separate account shall be distributed to the other units in the county in the same manner that other additional revenue allocated for economic development purposes is distributed.”

The EDIT plan rescinded in February included a broad list of projects or services for Jay County overall as well as lists relating to each municipality. According to the document, public hearings were held on the matter in each “district” or municipality to gather information for each individual capital improvement plan.

Aker suggested commissioners revisit the plan every two years in order for rotating commissioners and council members to give their input.

In related business, commissioners also approved a contract with Jay County Development Corporation for the remainder of 2023. County officials and the organization’s board of directors have been discussing the matter for nearly a year. 

The contract spells out services Jay County Development Corporation is expected to provide, including being a point of contact for businesses interested in locating in Jay County, recruiting new business, meeting with existing businesses to ensure their needs are being met, serving as a liaison for Jay County municipalities for grants, providing resources to the county’s grant writer, assisting businesses with tax abatements and other economic development activities. The organization is also required to report to county commissioners and county council on at least a quarterly basis and provide written reports at board and executive committee meetings.

Per the contract, a commissioner and a Jay County Council member will serve on the board and its executive committee. Commissioners agreed to remove McGalliard from the board and instead have Aker as their representative.

They also approved a $41,127.49 claim from Jay County Development Corporation for the second half of its 2023 budget, noting they did not include the amount allocated for a community development coordinator because the position will not be filled.