A new home?

Jay County Solid Waste District is looking at building a facility along Tyson Road.

Jay County Commissioners signed a letter of intent Monday to send to Portland Economic Development Corporation regarding a 75-acre parcel on the southwest side of Portland, just west of Tyson Foods and Community Fiber Solutions.

Commissioner Rex Journay explained Jay County Solid Waste Management District director George McGinnis, Jay County Solid Waste Management District education director Bettie Jacobs and himself approached Portland Economic Development Corporation about potentially granting the district up to 10 acres of the land to be used for constructing a new building.

The proposed facility would replace the district’s current building at 5948 W. Indiana 67, rural Portland. That building is leased from Waste Management, which operates Jay County Landfill. A new facility would allow for more space, including a recycling center.

Journay noted the board agreed to donate a portion of the parcel to the county subject to it conducting a wetlands survey on the entire 75 acres and contributing all associated costs, as well as paying for closing costs and recording fees. (Jay County Solid Waste Management District has agreed to cover those charges, Journay added.)

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the county because that site would go very well out there,” he said.

County attorney Wes Schemenaur noted the letter, which is non-binding, would commit the county to conduct a wetlands survey — the facility can’t be placed on or within so many feet of a designated wetland area — and a land survey to determine where to place the building.

“I agree with Rex, I think it’s a good deal for the county,” he said.

Also Monday, commissioners approved an inter-local agreement with Portland covering various topics.

The agreement outlines the following:

•Portland may haul vegetative debris to the highway department for disposal.

•Jay County will mow along areas of Pearl Street, Tyson Road, Boundary Pike, River Road and along the banks of the Salamonia River east of Wayne Street within city limits

•Portland will snow plow and salt the following roads: Tyson Road from Charles Street to Indiana 67; Seventh Street/100 South from Blaine Pike to Indiana 67; county road 200 West from Tyson Road to Red Gold in rural Portland; Blaine Pike from Portland city limits to county road 200 South; the entirety of county road 150 South; Court Street in between Main and Walnut streets in Portland.

•Jay County will snow plow and salt county road 100 North from Morton Street to U.S. 27.

•Portland will provide trash collection for Jay County Courthouse, the Community Resource Center and Jay County Health Department at no cost to the county.

•Jay County will allow storage of sand, sandbags and related equipment at Jay County Highway Department for flooding events. Both entities will alternate in providing sand for use in filling the bags.

Schemenaur explained that county and city officials met last week to discuss a potential agreement for issues involving street care.

“We all want to help each other out,” said Aker. “They’re going to help us, and we’re going to help them. It’s going to be beneficial to both of us, and like I said, I’m just glad to see us working together on this.”

Commissioners approved the resolution, which will move next to Portland Board of Works in May.