County offices damaged

The recorder’s office has moved, temporarily.

A water leak at Jay County Courthouse last week led to damage in both Jay County Recorder’s Office and Jay County Prosecutor’s Office.

While repairs are underway, Jay County Recorder’s Office is operating out of Jay County Commissioners’ room on the second floor of the courthouse.

Jay County recorder first deputy Angela Byrum walked into the office on the morning of Sept. 4 to find standing water. A part of the ceiling had caved in with water leaking out of it.

“There was flooding everywhere,” said recorder Melanie Upp.

Officials believe the source of the water was a sink drain in Jay Circuit Court’s office. Hays + Sons Complete Restoration of Muncie is handling the water removal, as well as testing samples to ensure there is no asbestos or mold in the area. 

Until the company is finished, Jay County Recorder’s Office has been blocked off to the public and employees.

Water also seeped into Jay County Prosecutor’s Office on the first floor of the courthouse, specifically the room used by chief deputy prosecutor Zec Landers. He’s been working out of a different part of the office since the incident.

Courthouse superintendent Bruce Sutton explained the building’s drains are approximately 105 years old. Made from galvanized steel, the pipes can deteriorate over time.

Sutton has coordinated re-lining some of the courthouse’s pipes in recent years to extend their lifespan. 

Jay County Commissioners approved an $8,750 contract July 29 with NuFlow Indy of Greenwood to make repairs to the toilet drain in Jay Circuit Court Office’s private restroom. Sutton noted in recent years the county has re-lined toilet drains in Jay Circuit Court’s jury room restrooms and in the restroom between the clerk’s and recorder’s offices.

Officials won’t be able to fully investigate the cause of the leak or damage until Hays + Sons is finished with its work.

“We’re waiting on it to dry out,” explained Sutton, noting trash cans and barrels are still collecting water from the leak.

Byrum quickly rushed to get help from others in the building after discovering the damage in the recorder’s office Sept. 4. Helpers put trash cans under the hole in the ceiling and covered equipment with trash bags. 

“We covered as much as we could,” Upp said.

At least one table in the recorder’s room has been ruined, noted Upp. She also pointed to potential damage to a large scanning machine, as well as the evident damage to the ceiling, walls and floor. A few books had water on the covers, but Upp believes they were able to dry them out quickly enough to avoid severe water damage.

Information technology employee Randy Cleaver moved computer equipment into the commissioners’ room, converting the table formerly used for commissioners’ meetings into a desk for Upp and Byrum. Some of their other equipment, including a printer, has been shifted into the public seating area in the room.

Although they’re currently unable to offer the public access to books from the recorder’s office — those are still located in the dry parts of the office — Jay County Recorder’s Office is still providing recording services, such as recording property deeds.