Variance OK’d for new business

A new small business is starting in Pennville.

Jay County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance request Thursday from Tristen Harmon to operate a small-scale powder coating business within the Town of Pennville.

Harmon, 25, plans to start taking orders through Harmon’s Custom Coating in about a month. He’ll work out of his grandmother’s garage at 445 S. Broadway St.

A Redkey native and Jay County High School graduate, Harmon has lived in Pennville for about five years. He’s been practicing powder coating for nearly three years as a hobby and decided to pursue it in a business setting.

Powder coating involves fusing a dry powder to the surface of a metal object using an electric charge. 

The coating is then cured in an oven and forms a smooth coating. It’s typically used for metal parts, such as automobile components.

“We’re talking any color that you want,” said Harmon. “(It) also offers protection, it’ll keep it from rusting and (help) the metal part (last) for a long time.”

Jay/Portland Building and Planning director John Hemmelgarn said the Town of Pennville has indicated that it is OK with the business. It required zoning board approval because the garage is in an area that is zoned residential.

Harmon noted the amount of work he’ll take will be on a low scale, with plans to focus more on custom orders. He also said there won’t be pollutants or extra noise, nor will there be extra equipment sitting outside or a high volume of traffic as a result of the business.

Board members Angela Paxson, Kaleb Hemmelgarn, Steve Ford and Scott Hilfiker, with Marla Lutes absent, approved the variance.