Clean-up after courthouse leak is ongoing

Efforts to make repairs at Jay County Courthouse after a water leak are ongoing.

Jay County Commissioners approved a contract Monday with Hays + Sons Complete Restoration of Muncie for repairing water damage in Jay County Recorder’s Office and Jay County Prosecutor’s Office.

Jay County Recorder’s Office employees walked into their office on the second floor of the courthouse Sept. 4 to discover water gushing out of a partially collapsed ceiling. Water also seeped into Jay County Prosecutor’s Office on the first floor. Officials believe the source of the water was a deteriorated sink drain pipe in Jay Circuit Court’s office on the third floor.

Commissioners president Chad Aker explained the company was authorized on an emergency basis to begin remediation and repairs Sept. 4. Hays + Sons Complete Restoration offered a contract with no final amount. County auditor Emily Franks noted the company is still drying out the recorder’s and prosecutor’s offices.

“It’s been taking a lot longer due to the materials, plasterwork and everything,” she explained.

Jay County prosecutor Wes Schemenaur — he also serves as county attorney — advocated for commissioners to approve the contract. Schemenaur suggested liability insurance may cover the majority of the cost. Franks later pointed out the deductible is $50,000.

Schemenaur noted prosecutor’s office chief deputy Zech Landers’ office was damaged. Landers has been working out of a different space since the incident. Some flooring, trim, baseboard, plaster and ceiling will likely need to be replaced, he added. A couple computer monitors may also have been damaged beyond repair.

“We’re full of fans and dehumidifiers,” he said. “That back room where (investigator Curt Compton’s) office is at is pretty well shot … and what’s left of the floor is pretty warped.”

Jay County Recorder’s Office has been blocked off since the incident, with recorder’s office employees working out of the former commissioners’ room on the second floor. Although the office is still providing recording services, Schemenaur noted it’s unable to offer title searches and other services because it does not have access to all of its books.

Along with water damage to the ceiling, walls and floor, at least one table in the recorder’s room has been ruined, according to county recorder Melanie Upp. A large scanning machine may have also been damaged from the standing water.

Officials won’t be able to fully investigate the damage or cause of the leak until Hays + Sons is finished with its work. The courthouse’s drains are approximately 105 years old, according to courthouse superintendent Bruce Sutton. 

Re-lining work has been completed for some of those pipes in recent years to extend their lifespans.

Also Monday, commissioners formally signed an ordinance declaring a burn ban in Jay County until further notice. Aker noted fire chiefs from Jay County fire departments met and determined the dry weather conditions warranted a burn ban. Jay County Sheriff’s Office alert system sent out notice of the ban at 3:36 p.m. Sept. 13. Aker pointed out as of Monday morning the ban was still in effect.

In other business, commissioners:

•Tabled decision on a contract with Waste Management for trash services at Jay County Jail. The company — it acquired customers from previous service provider, Crown City Logistics — has offered a three-year contract with an automatic renewal at $132.50 per month. The county’s previous contract with Crown City Logistics expires in October. Waste Management offered a month-to-month service for the jail until a new contract is signed.

•OK’d Jay County Highway Department to utilize a 5.75% interest loan with The Farmers State Bank of Portland for purchase of a Case front end loader.

•Were informed county road 700 West has been closed between county roads 200 and 300 South because of an unsafe bridge. Highway superintendent Bob Howell noted the bridge was inspected by a consultant, who recommended closing the road permanently for the time being. Aker pointed out the timber bridge is rotted and will likely need to be  totally rebuilt, which he said may take a few years.

•Heard it would cost $5,238 to install a solar-charged flashing “stop ahead” sign at county road 650 South, just west of U.S. 27. Residents have requested the measure be implemented at the intersection. Commissioners pointed to other additional signage at the intersection, with Howell noting the department has approximately $8,000 left in its budget for signs and has had several signs stolen this year.

•Appointed Amy Hawbaker to Jay County Public Library Board and Courtney Bivens to Dunkirk Library Board.

•OK’d combining parcels for a few landowners, including Margaret Ralph, for annual ditch assessments per recommendation from county surveyor Brad Daniels.

•Heard Jay Emergency Medical Services' financial breakdown for August from director Gary Barnett. The department had $123,768.39 in expenses and $108,159.19 in income for August.

•OK’d scrapping a 2008 Ford pick-up truck after learning there were no offers for purchasing it from Jay County Highway Department.

•Were reminded commissioners will meet at 5 p.m. Oct. 14 and Oct. 28 as a result of early voting taking place in Jay County Courthouse auditorium during the day.