Land purchase?

County officials are eyeing another piece of property on the west side of Portland.

Jay County Council approved a resolution Wednesday declaring interest in purchasing and seeking appraisals for about 47 acres of a portion of the property at 1702 W. Tyson Road.

Relatedly, Jay County Commissioners during a joint session with council on Wednesday tabled decision on buying the land, saying they would like to review the appraisals first.

Council and commissioners met in executive session Wednesday prior to council’s regular meeting to discuss the potential purchase. Council member Bryan Alexander brought up the subject during the regular meeting, proposing council approve a resolution to move forward with the real estate acquisition.

“This is just starting the process,” said Alexander. “Frankly, my thoughts would be, if we pass this and we get feedback from the commissioners or ‘no,’ we won’t pursue it, I mean, there’s no reason to pursue it, but if we don’t pass this today, we can’t take action.”

The property — it is located on the north side of Tyson Road between Rose Drive and Brigade Electronics — will be available for public auction Sept. 6. County officials are specifically interested in Tract 3, which according to the auction listing has water and wastewater taps installed.

Council and commissioners indicated the property could be used for housing development.

Per the resolution, Jon Funk and Dave Tarter were appointed to appraise the fair market value of the property within 30 days.

Alexander asked for direction from his fellow council members.

“I think it sounds like an excellent plan,” council member Cindy Bracy said, with council president Matt Minnich agreeing.

Council members Faron Parr, Randy May, Michael Brewster, Harold Towell, Minnich, Bracy and Alexander then approved the resolution.

During the joint session Wednesday, commissioners president Chad Aker voiced concern about the property going up for auction sale in less than a month. Alexander said the appraisals should be complete by Monday. Aker also pointed to conducting a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment, with Alexander asking county attorney Wes Schemenaur if an assessment is required. 

Schemenaur explained while it’s not a legal requirement, if there are issues under the surface and the county purchases the property prior to knowing about them, the county could be liable to cover those issues.

Bracy recalled when the county purchased the 68-acre property on the western edge of Portland along Votaw Street (Indiana 67), saying she didn’t believe the county did Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment prior to purchasing the land. 

(Commissioners agreed to pay for a water and wastewater analysis — it would determine whether the grounds were feasible for a large-scale project — on the property in November 2022, with officials moving forward on the purchase in February 2023 prior to the analysis’ completion.)

Aker advocated for a housing project but recommended commissioners hold off on a vote until after they receive appraisals.

Commissioners agreed to table the matter.

Also during the joint session Wednesday, commissioners and council heard an update on the infrastructure project planned for the county’s 68-acre property along Votaw Street (Indiana 67) on the west side of Portland.

Cecil Penland of planning firm Rundell, Ernstberger and Associates reminded county officials they authorized the company earlier this year to move forward with engineering the first phase of development plans. (That would include installing wastewater and stormwater utilities, a water main and lift station.)

The company aims to have engineering work complete by the beginning of October so that the project can go out to bid.

Penland noted the overall cost for the utility structure has decreased from $3.9 million to $3.1 million, an $800,000 savings. 

“That’s been a result of the sanitary lift station and savings that we’ve been able to find there based on the size of the environments and needs,” he said.

Aker said that would decrease the county’s local match from $1.4 million to $600,000. He pointed to a few potential revenue sources, such as $2.6 million in the economic development income tax (EDIT) fund, $1.6 million in Jay County Redevelopment Commission’s coffers and about $1 million in wind farm economic development payments.

Ed Curtin of CWC Latitudes noted a request for proposals was sent out to about 115 entities. A pre-proposal meeting is slated for 1:30 p.m. Aug. 29. The county will have proposals back by Oct. 24. Curtin said they anticipate multiple proposals to be made for the project, noting a few developers who have already voiced their interest.

In other business, during council’s regular meeting Wednesday, council approved a resolution declaring intent for the county to approve a balanced budget.

Pointing to concerns with a reduction in Jay County’s property tax revenue in 2026 and beyond per Senate Enrolled Act 1, Alexander proposed passing a formal resolution to keep budgets balanced moving forward.

“Jay County Council will use its best efforts to pass a budget that does not exceed projected revenues in order to retain a solid financial base for the operations of Jay County Government,” the resolution says.

Council approved the measure, with Parr opposed.

Council members also:

•OK’d auditor Emily Franks to send out a notice to taxing units in Jay County, recommending taxing units adopt budgets, rates and levies that are less than estimated maximum levies.

•Rescheduled their budget review meeting for 5:30 p.m. Sept. 2.

•Made the following additional appropriations: $45,000 for Leap Managed IT services as it transitions into being the county’s information technology provider; $35,000 for new drones for Jay County Sheriff’s Office, with Alexander opposing; $12,500 for additional work completed by Ritter Strategic Services for the procurement of new radios for Jay County emergency responders (see related story); and $7,000 for a new scanner for Jay County Clerk’s Office.

•Had a motion fail for making a $12,500 additional appropriation to pay Kleinpeter Consulting for additional work in the owner-occupied rehabilitation program. May, Faron and Brewster voted in favor, Bracy, Alexander and Towell opposed and Minnich broke the tie with a dissenting vote.

•Transferred $2,500 from Jay County Highway Department’s budget from the telephone fund to the part-time wages fund; and $2,000 from Jay County Country Living’s repair and maintenance fund to its miscellaneous expenses fund for mowing services.