Jail will get new softeners

New water softeners are going to be installed in the jail.

Jay County Commissioners agreed Monday to pay $35,700.18 to Don Myers Plumbing and Heating of Berne for a new water softener system at Jay County Jail.

Representatives from Laux Plumbing and Heating, Patriot Water Solutions and Don Myers Plumbing and Heating attended the meeting to clarify specs in their proposals, which were priced at $32,652.38, $50,000 and $35,700.18, respectively.

Commissioners president Chad Aker noted the difference in grain capacity, which varied between 1 million and 900,000 grain. (It measures the capacity of the softener, specifically how much water hardness it’s able to remove between cycles.)

Jud Myers explained the jail, which is connected to Jay County Sheriff’s Office, currently has two units and pushes 65 gallons per minute. He suggested upgrading to three tanks and increasing to a three-inch water line, which would push 130 gallons per minute. His proposal would allow one tank at a time to regenerate — in simple terms, cleanse itself — while two tanks were still running. He also hopes to be able to remove the booster pumps, which have been used to boost the system. (With an increased capacity, they may not be needed.)

Myers said it would save on energy and maintenance costs.

The unit is also upgradable, meaning officials could purchase and install an additional tank if there is a need in the future. He estimated the system would last 15 to 20 years.

Aker noted the current system isn’t equipped to handle the regular water intake.

“The major concern is, we need them sized correctly,” he said. “We made the mistake here a few years ago that they got put in undersized, and we just want to verify that these are the proper size that are going to last.”

Chris Koenig of Patriot Water Solutions said he didn’t know about plans to increase the size. Phil Laux said his quote didn’t include an estimate for taking out the two-inch water line or removing the current booster pumps, and he told commissioners Myers’ suggestion would be a better fit.

“You guys have spent time and money on those motors. They run all the time,” Laux said. “I mean … they never stop.”

Sheriff Ray Newton advocated for selecting a proposal sooner rather than later.

“We need to get this taken care of,” he said, noting the softeners are not running currently. “Because, it’s hard on the fixtures.”

Commissioners agreed to purchase the water softeners from Don Myers Plumbing and Heating. They OK’d either using economic development income tax (EDIT) dollars for the purchase or taking the funds out of the sheriff’s budget, with the latter likely requiring an additional appropriation. (The decision will hinge on Jay County Council’s approval at its June meeting.)

Also Monday, commissioners agreed to switch to Community Fiber Solutions for internet services at the sheriff’s office. The 60-month contract comes at a cost of $6,535.08. Newton pointed out the county will save $10,000 with the switch from its current provider, Comcast.

Commissioners discussed upgrading the mapping system used by the sheriff’s office, a move that will likely involve an inter-local agreement with the City of Portland. County attorney Wes Schemenaur pointed out in the past the city has paid a portion of the cost, but the specifics were not clearly documented. Commissioners talked about negotiating with the city for the purchase but took no action at the meeting.

Newton also pointed out the new boilers at the sheriff’s office did not pass inspection and that he has been trying to get ahold of someone to look into the matter.

Commissioners made several decisions impacting Jay County Courthouse, which included:

•Contracting with Dynamic Business Solutions (DBS) Web Designs of Portland to purchase two recording devices at a cost of $6,075, along with a $120 quarterly technical support fee and a $720 annual server streaming and storage fee. Plans are to install the devices in the auditorium and begin live-streaming and uploading videos of meetings to commissioners’ and Jay County Council’s pages at jaycounty.net. (Commissioners may begin hosting their meetings in the auditorium as soon as May 22.) A new state law passed this year requires that such government meetings be live-streamed beginning July 1, 2025 (see related story).

•Expanding and updating the fire-alarm system at a cost of $10,384 from Priority 1 Life Safety Systems.

•Upgrading the security system and purchasing new ID badges from Stylus Technologies for $7,432 and buying 60 new keys for $755. The current system does not meet state fire code, making it more complicated to exit the building through some doors without fob access.

•OK’d Jay County Emergency Management Agency director Samantha Rhodehamel to apply for a grant in hopes of purchasing a new automated external defibrillator.

•Buying 14 new chairs for the auditorium from Progressive Del Toro for $7,322.

Commissioners also spoke with highway superintendent Eric Butcher, who mentioned his department is getting prepared for chip and seal work this summer. Aker pointed out they met with Bill Walters, executive director at East Central Indiana Regional Planning District, and others to look into grant funding for a new heated highway garage, which was estimated by American Structurepoint to cost between $1.7 million to $2.1 million. (Butcher proposed the project after chilling temperatures and snow in December froze the fuel lines in several plows, making it difficult to clear roads.)

In other business, commissioners:

•Clarified an error in a legal advertisement published by Indiana Department of Environmental Management in Thursday’s edition of The Commercial Review. The advertisement — it discussed adding a railroad transfer facility — was meant for Morristown.

•Decreased a contribution to the Upper Wabash River Basin Commission to $500. (Commissioners have contributed $1,000 in past years.)

•OK’d an annual permit fee of $35,000 for Jay County Landfill in 2023. They informed Jerry Klopfenstein of Jay County Landfill of their intention to raise the price to $50,000 next year. (The price hasn’t changed for at least two decades.)

•Agreed to purchase a new $16,898 fire alarm system from Koorsen Fire and Security of Fort Wayne for Jay County Country Living, formerly known as Jay County Retirement Center.

•Received a report from John Hemmelgarn of Jay/Portland Building and Planning. Since January, approximately 100 permits have been issued, including 36 in Portland. Six new home permits in Jay County were issued, along with 16 commercial use permits, 14 of which are in Portland.

•Heard from Carl Walker, Taylor Suman and Tim Kroeker of Jay County Soil and Water District, who noted grants and ongoing projects at the organization.

•Paid $1,086.60 in administration fees to Indiana Bond Bank for its fuel budget program.