County bridges need repairs

Some of the county’s bridges are beginning to deteriorate.

Jay County needs to put together a plan for how to handle the issue moving forward.

Jay County Commissioners heard Monday about two road closures on county roads caused by unsafe bridges and the highway department’s inability to fund repairs or replacements.

Jay County Highway Department superintendent Bob Howell explained the bridges on county road 700 West between 200 South and 300 South and on county road 600 West north of Indiana 26 are closed until further notice. 

He pointed to two bridge repairs or replacements set for 2026 on county road 350 West between county road 50 North and 200 North and county road 1100 West between Division Road and county road 100 North that are mainly funded on a federal level, as well as another bridge replacement set for Portland’s Seventh Street bridge over the Salamonie River mainly funded by Community Crossings for next year. 

Combining all the bridge work, the highway department doesn’t have enough funding in its budget to make the necessary repairs or replacements to the bridges on county roads 700 West and 600 West. Howell suggested commissioners allocate more funding, cut or decrease road conversions next year or come up with another plan to make the repairs or replacements soon.

Currently, Jay County Highway Department plans to apply for Indiana Department of Transportation’s Community Crossings grants in 2026 and 2027 to pay for the bridge projects.

Jay County has been working with engineering firm Egis of Indianapolis for bridge planning. Commissioners signed a $432,926.96 contract with the company Monday for bridge inspections from 2025 through 2028. (Approximately 80% of the cost is reimbursed on a federal level.)

“They are finding more bridges that are deteriorating and failing each year,” Howell said. “We know that there is heavier farm equipment, trucks, driving over these, so we need to look into better design.”

Commissioner Rex Journay asked about how much it costs to replace a bridge, with superintendent administrative assistant Stephanie Klarer noting recent estimates have come in between $1.1 million and $1.2 million per bridge.

Klarer explained the county’s timber bridges built in the 1980s are the main problem, noting the county currently has 42 timber bridges (approximately 27% of the county’s total bridges).

“Since they were all built around the same time, unfortunately they’re going to start deteriorating and failing at the same time, and that’s what we’re falling into,” said Klarer.

Journay expressed concern about more bridges failing in the next five years. He asked about ways to prolong the life of a bridge.

“We surely aren’t the only county that built bridges like this back in the 1980s,” he said. “There’s got to be similar problems in similar counties. Surely there’s some kind of a fit.”

Answering a question from commissioner Brian McGalliard, county attorney Wes Schemenaur suggested the county could use economic development income tax (EDIT) funding or tax increment financing (TIF) dollars. McGalliard pointed to using EDIT funds as a potential source for bridge repairs or replacements.

Commissioners president Chad Aker suggested installing culverts as an alternative. Journay also recommended looking at cost-effective ways to repair bridges.

“This is a problem,” noted Journay. “It’s going to get worse.”

Also Monday, commissioners approved an ordinance abolishing emergency response  group Rescue 19.

Commissioners have been discussing the volunteer group’s disbandment for months, pointing to decreased participation and a lack of need for its services. Rescue 19 had been in action since 1965 and in recent years served as a vehicle accident response team for extrication needs.

Aker, who also serves as a firefighter at Portland Fire Department, read aloud the ordinance.

“The board of commissioners have determined that said group has become obsolete and that area fire departments have special equipment and manpower to respond to said emergencies,” he said.

In abolishing the ordinance, commissioners gave permission to Samantha Rhodehamel of Jay County Emergency Management Agency to begin divvying Rescue 19 equipment out to Jay County fire departments. Rhodehamel noted departments have selected items to take from Rescue 19’s inventory list. Remaining equipment will be sold via auction at a later date.

Commissioners also agreed Monday to hire Stacey Johnson as the new director of residential facility Jay County Country Living, formerly known as Jay County Retirement Center.

Jay County Country Living Advisory Board member Jon Eads explained the board unanimously approved hiring Johnson, who currently works at Pregnancy Care Center of Jay County. Johnson will begin at the facility starting Oct. 28, taking over the role from interim director Melissa Blankley.

In other business, commissioners:

•Renewed a contract with Jay County Humane Society for county animal control in 2025. Next year’s contract came in at $68,315 and incorporates a 3% raise from the current year.

•OK’d moving forward with All Circuit Electrical of Bryant for roughly $24,000 in electrical system updates at Jay County Country Living. Commissioners pointed out the outlets are limited in many rooms and noted potential fire hazards with residents utilizing various extension cords.

•Approved a three-year contract with Waste Management priced at $128 monthly for trash services at Jay County Jail.

•OK’d applying for a United States Department of Justice grant to purchase body cameras, vehicles cameras and video storage space for $264,626. The grant — its application is due Oct. 22 — requires no match and has no cap. To meet stipulations, commissioners OK’d East Central Indiana Regional Planning District to apply on behalf of Sheriff Ray Newton.

•Learned about community coordinator Nate Kimball’s plans to begin contacting homeowners who applied for repairs through the county’s owner-occupied rehabilitation program. Hopes are to roll out radon testing and engineering work for homes in the coming weeks, with the first bids for projects expected to be opened by Nov. 30.

•Learned about Newton’s plans to use commissary funds to purchase a 2025 Polaris Ranger for the sheriff’s office and a storage building for the firing range as well as to paint the jail’s kitchen and other jail offices.

•Heard Jay County Jail underwent a state inspection Oct. 8. Newton noted the jail had no violations, with the inspector recommending the security center update its policy regarding inmate grievances and discipline.

•Agreed to the following: paying a $16,581.25 claim from Jay County Humane Society for animal control; applying for $29,213.05 for an annual salary grant through the state for Jay County EMA; paying $6,905.76 to Safety Systems of Richmond for installing lighting systems in two pickup trucks at the highway department; increasing Jay County Health Department’s credit card limit from $1,500 to $2,500; scrapping a 2016 Dodge owned by the highway department after receiving no bids from the public for it; a request to re-route a county ditch along county road 650 East and Indiana 67, east of Bryant, at the nearby property owner’s expense.

•Approved the 2025 county employee pay and holiday schedule.