Adding drones

New equipment is on the way to Jay County Sheriff’s Office.

Jay County Commissioners agreed Monday to purchasing four new drones as well as a network upgrade for the department.

Jay County Sheriff’s Office started using drones in April 2022 for investigating traffic accidents, surveying weather damage and locating lost residents. Sheriff Ray Newton explained the sheriff’s office started the program before his current term. He said he learned the department didn’t have a licensed drone operator or other credentials, such as registration with Federal Aviation Administration, needed to use the equipment.

The department sent five employees to drone training earlier this year, with three employees now licensed to operate drones. However, its current drone equipment doesn’t offer remote identification, a requirement through the FAA that dictates drones in flight must provide identification and location information through a broadcast signal. Two of its drones are also outdated, Newton said.

He provided three purchase options — $31,396 from Seiler GeoDrones, $33,136 from Public Safety UAS and $52,000 from Xytech. Newton suggested purchasing the drones from Public Safety UAS, noting the purchase comes with a one-year warranty, tech support and additional batteries. He added the money is available from his department’s accident report fund.

Commissioners Chad Aker, Duane Monroe and Doug Horn OK’d purchasing the drones from Public Safety UAS.

They also approved a $25,990 fiber cable upgrade for the sheriff’s office.

Bill Baldwin, 911 director, approached commissioners in May explaining Jay County Sheriff’s Office phones had not been recording calls. He talked about hopes to install larger fiber optic cables at the jail to solve the problem. 

Newton noted the phone system can’t record calls currently, saying Allstar Technologies had originally indicated the technology would be compatible before it was installed this year.

“We found out, it didn’t work,” explained Newton.

Baldwin added that the department’s switches are old and its current fiber system’s capacity is maxed out. Plans are for information technology worker Cameron Clark to purchase the equipment and begin installing it.

Newton explained the purchase wasn’t anticipated, saying he doesn’t have the whole amount available in his budget. Commissioners president Chad Aker mentioned the need to record phone calls. County attorney Wes Schemenaur pointed to potential liabilities as well as criminal investigations, saying the department should be storing recordings for at least 180 days.

Commissioners decided to request an additional appropriation to pay for the project, which will need to be approved by Jay County Council.

Newton also noted recent security changes for Jay County Courthouse, which included installing a gate near security equipment at the south entrance. Previously, courthouse security was required to stay after hours for board meetings in the auditorium or other events.

Plans are to secure the gate when the courthouse closes each day, lock remaining accessible rooms and, after 5 p.m., open the women’s restroom as a unisex restroom.

Also Monday, commissioners heard from POET Bioprocessing general manager Adam Homan and DTE Vantage affiliates regarding a proposed carbon sequestration project in Jay County.

Commissioners requested POET Bioprocessing attend their meeting to answer questions about the project, which would involve injecting carbon dioxide into the ground from the company’s property.

POET Bioprocessing is offering to pay Jay County communities $2 per ton of carbon dioxide injected, a unique partnership, Homan said, that ethanol plants pursuing similar projects in other places haven’t offered.

Tony Muzzin of DTE Vantage noted various conversations about the project happening across multiple county and Portland meetings. He shared hopes to step back and work with Jay County/Portland Building and Planning Department as well as plan commissions to determine policies and procedures for the operation.

Plans are to file a Class 6 permit for the project required through Environmental Protection Agency within the next 30 days. Muzzin noted the process will take at least two years.

“We do have time,” he said. “We are willing and wanting to help educate and set appropriate measures with the county that would make sense for everyone to feel that the project is moving forward and safe.”

In other business, commissioners:

•Approved the following: a $168,043 proposal from engineering firm Civil Con for installing an aluminum box culvert under a portion of county road 300 North; a $179,000 quarterly claim from LifeStream Services; a $17,000 economic development income tax (EDIT) request from West Jay Community Center; a $7,000 scanner from Four-U Office Supplies of Celina, Ohio, for Jay County Clerk’s Office; and a $2,590.60 bid for paper from Four-U Office Supplies.

•OK’d terminating a three-year contract with Ford Pro Intelligence for in-vehicle cameras with Jay County Highway Department and switching to a three-year agreement with Samsara at $21,052.80 annually and a $7,418.57 one-time installation cost. Highway department administrative assistant Stephanie Klarer explained Ford Pro was not able to install cameras on four of the department’s vehicles.

•Heard from Cindy Bracy of Jay County Country Living, who noted the facility’s advisory board would meet later that evening. She asked commissioners for guidance as it relates to how they would like the board to act moving forward and whether she can create a “think tank” for ideas on next steps. Aker said commissioners would like to hear the board’s thoughts first, with Bracy agreeing to attend another commissioners’ meeting soon to share those thoughts. 

•Heard a monthly financial breakdown from Jay Emergency Medical Service director Gary Barnett. JEMS had $131,957.38 in expenses and $82,947.72 in income.

•Learned Jay County Country Living is planning a community chili cook-off, with the date and time yet to be determined.