Contract OK’d, goodbyes shared

The end of the year for county officials comes with end-of-the-year formalities — annual renewals and final claims, among other activities.

With two Jay County Commissioners finishing out their last meeting in office, Monday’s meeting also came with a few goodbyes.

Commissioners approved a $197,000 contract with Quality Correctional Care of Carmel for Jay County Jail inmate medical care Monday. They also shared their farewells for commissioners Brian McGalliard and Rex Journay ending their terms.

The contract with Quality Correctional Care increased from the current year’s $120,000 amount, with sheriff Ray Newton noting a second nurse has been brought on for next year. (Jay County Council approved Newton’s budget for 2025, which allocated additional funds for a second nurse from Quality Correctional Care on staff.) 

Quality Correctional Care provides medical assistance as needed to inmates, a requirement per law. 

The medical care provider — it has worked with Jay County for years — employs a nurse to work at the jail as needed.  According to its website, it operates in 70 counties across the state.

Outgoing commissioners also shared their final thoughts Monday. Starting in January, commissioners-elect Doug Horn and Duane Monroe take the seats currently held by Journay and McGalliard.

Aker asked commissioners before adjourning if they had any comments.

“I’d just like to say I’ve enjoyed this, it’s been very educational for Rex Journay, and I thank you, Chad, for leading us,” said Journay.

“It’s been a pleasure, gentlemen, I wish the new commissioners nothing but the best of luck,” said McGalliard, addressing Horn and Monroe in the crowd. “There’s a lot more involved than you probably ever fully realized …”

Aker handed plaques to Journay and McGalliard and thanked them for their service.

“We’ve had some ups and downs, without a doubt, but I think overall we’ve done what’s best for the county, we’ve tried our best to improve the county,” said Aker.

Also Monday, commissioners decided not to lease the 68-acre property located along Indiana 67 on the west edge of Portland for farming purposes next year. Commissioner president Chad Aker noted the $1.28 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars committed toward development of the land in the next two years.

“I think it’s an invaluable commitment to the county’s best interest that we do not farm that next year,” said McGalliard, noting potential liability issues if work installing utilities begins in 2025.

In other business, commissioners:

•Approved the following: purchasing a third 1,000-gallon propane tank for $3,850 for Jay County Highway Department; combining the Little Salamonia and Eugene Franks watersheds into the Salamonia River watershed, keeping the Little Salamonia watershed rates the same and decreasing the Eugene Franks watershed rates from $2.19 to $2 and from $25 to $20 a plot; purchasing a $1,285 front counter for Purdue Extension Office of Jay County; a right-of-way agreement with Comcast for work to be completed along Blaine Pike just south of county road 125 South.

•Appointed Amy Hawbaker to Jay County Library Board.

•Signed a lease with Steve Schoenlein, John Schoenlein and Ken Schoenlein (Schoenlein Brothers) for just under 294 acres of tillable land around Jay County Country Living at $376 an acre ($110,468 total) for three years.

•Listened to updates from Jay County Country Living director Stacey Johnson, who shared a year-end financial report. The county budgeted approximately $451,000, Jay County Country Living spent about $416,000 and received approximately $148,000 from Indiana Residential Care Assistance Program among other revenues. According to estimates shared Monday, the facility resulted in a net expense to the county of roughly $98,000. Johnson noted she hired a full-time cook and a part-time maintenance worker. She also requested commissioners OK utilize former director Melissa Blankley as an “as needed” employee, noting Blankley’s background as a licensed nurse. Aker suggested discussing the topic at a Jay County Personnel Committee.

•Heard plans to begin bidding out more projects for the owner-occupied rehabilitation program starting in January. Community coordinator Nate Kimball shared feedback he received from contractors, saying they would like more time between the bidding process starting and closing in order to get the information they need to meet Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs regulations.

•Paid various claims, including a $366,000 Bank of Oklahoma bond for Jay County Jail, a $298,733.13 Indiana Treasurer claim — county auditor Emily Franks explained it’s the state’s portion of local excise taxes — a $22,094.60 Indiana Treasurer claim, a $15,000 Kleinpeter Consulting claim for the owner-occupied rehabilitation program, a $13,413.49 Medler’s Furniture of Portland claim for repairs at Jay County Courthouse and $6,240 Schneider Geospatial claim for geographic information system.

•Heard Jay Emergency Medical Services' financial breakdown for November from director Gary Barnett. The department had $131,232.54 in expenses and $92,242.08 in income.

•Accepted $250 in donations for Jay County Country Living.