Another round of projects approved

With work on one round of rehabilitation projects expected to start this week, commissioners signed off on another round Monday.

Jay County Commissioners agreed to move forward Monday with a second round of projects involved in the owner-occupied rehabilitation program. Jay County community coordinator Darlesia Lee also announced some construction projects from the first round are beginning this week.

Jay County received an Office of Community and Rural Affairs grant for taking part in the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) planning process for federal coronavirus relief dollars. Using those funds, Jay County created the owner-occupied rehabilitation program to help make necessary repairs or upgrades —proposed work may include roof, water heater or heating ventilation and air conditioning unit replacements, electrical work or upgrades to make a home more accessible — to residents’ homes in the county. Projects are limited to $25,000 per household, a requirement set by state guidelines. (If a project is set to go over the allotted amount, homeowners are given the option to pay the excess or forfeit the project.)

Lee noted all homeowners involved in the first round of the program have signed agreements. She said some homeowners have been contacted already, with work to start this week or, in one resident’s case, on Monday.

“These homes have met all the necessary requirements, and we’ve submitted their applications and bids to OCRA for review,” she said.

Lee asked for approval from commissioners contingent on the Office of Community and Rural Affairs’ decisions to move forward with the second round of projects.

Commissioners then agreed to the request.

In other news from East Central Indiana Regional Planning District, Lee reminded commissioners about a survey intended to gather data for potential grant funding. 

The survey, a partnership between Jay County Public Library and the planning district, serves as a way to gauge Jay County residents’ internet access and technology skills and is available through June 1. Data gathered from the survey could help secure a grant to provide free computer and technology classes.

It’s available online at tinyurl.com/ych7f6sf, with paper copies also available at the library. Those who complete surveys will be entered into a raffle for gift cards from local food establishments.

Commissioners also decided Monday to discuss enacting one-year moratoriums on commercial battery storage and commercial solar farms at their April 28 meeting. 

Jay County Plan Commission recommended enacting the moratoriums, which officials said will give them time to draft a battery storage ordinance and review the current solar ordinance.

Relatedly, assistant director of Jay/Portland Building and Planning Pati McLaughlin noted that someone requested names and addresses of landowners leasing property for proposed solar farms and later posted the information on Facebook. She pointed out those documents are a part of the projects’ development plans, which are public information.

Also Monday, commissioners passed a resolution opposing Indiana Senate Bill 1. (The Senate concurred with House changes to the bill later in the day, sending it to Gov. Mike Braun for his signature.)

Aker noted the resolution is similar to legislation approved by Portland City Council last week, which voices disapproval with state bills reducing funding to local government units without offering an alternative revenue stream.

County attorney Wes Schemenaur said the resolution mirrors proposals being enacted around the state as drafted by Accelerate Indiana Municipalities. As of Monday morning, he said, Indiana Legislative Services Agency estimated Jay County alone to lose $900,000 of projected tax revenue in 2026, $1.8 million in 2027 and $2.5 million in 2028.

In related business, commissioners agreed to hire Rick Hall of business law firm Barnes and Thornburg to lobby Senate Bill 1 on Jay County’s behalf.

In other business, commissioners:

•Discussed whether to use security at Jay County Courthouse for meetings and other events after regular business hours. (Currently, courthouse security is present for any activities after designated open hours.) Aker suggested creating a committee involving a commissioner and representatives from Jay County Council, Jay County Auditor’s Office, Jay County Sheriff’s Office and the courthouse’s custodial staff to determine a policy moving forward.

•Amended an agreement with Rundell, Ernstberger and Associates, reducing the cost of services by about $2,000.

•Approved the following: an annual contract with LifeWorks Counseling and Wellness; bids for asphalt emulsion from Asphalt Materials and K-Tech; a $36,187.50 claim from engineering firm EGIS for work related to the owner-occupied rehabilitation program; a $28,830 claim from 4TC Corporation for electrical repairs and upgrades made at Jay County Country Living; a $21,400 claim to pay an agreement with Dragos Macelaru in relation to work on the Seventh Street bridge in Portland.

•Heard from Cliff Moser during the drainage board meeting about drainage issues at his property on Charles Street in Portland. Moser voiced concerns about the wastewater system being able to handle the housing project planned on the county’s 68 acres on the west side of Portland.

•Tabled decision on accepting a donation of beds from Persimmon Ridge Rehabilitation Center of Portland for Jay County Country Living.