Kimball to leave county role

Jay County’s community coordinator has resigned.

Nate Kimball, who has held the position since summer 2023, submitted his resignation in late November.

His resignation had not been announced publicly. The Commercial Review learned this week about his impending departure, which he and Jay County County Commissioners president Chad Aker subsequently confirmed.

Kimball serves as assistant director of regional economic development and planning at East Central Indiana Regional Planning District (ECIRP), which contracts with the county for Kimball’s role as community coordinator and other projects.

His last day is slated for Feb. 28. 

Aker confirmed that ECIRP has been looking into a replacement for Kimball and indicated the group will likely hire a person who lives in Jay County. He said Friday he couldn’t disclose the candidate’s name yet. 

“They’ve chosen this particular person that’s going to fit in really well with them, and that person will be trained by Nate and taking over for him, and will be here full-time,” Aker said.

“It is someone local that is respected around here and is fairly known,” he added.

The Commercial Review attempted to call ECIRP officials on Friday afternoon but was unable to make contact before press time.

Kimball will be transitioning into a role with his family’s business, Ashton Land Surveyors of Muncie. He volunteered with the company during his time in college.

“It’s a family business, I don’t want that 50 years of hard work that my grandfather has put in to be for nothing in the long run when this is a business that is thriving and just needs somebody to step in and help out,” said Kimball. 

He’s currently pursuing surveyor classes online at Vincennes University. In order to become certified, he’ll need to complete his associate’s degree in surveyor work — he already has a bachelor’s degree in marketing — and train under a licensed surveyor for about five years. Kimball noted his job will likely consist of various work while he trains, including drafting, field work, research and other surveyor duties.

“Anywhere and everywhere that a surveyor might touch, I’m going to be in just so I can learn the business and also learn the feel,” he said.

Jay County Commissioners approved a two-year contract with ECIRP in August 2023. Kimball has been working for the county through ECIRP since then, attending local municipality government meetings and connecting officials to grant opportunities for their communities.

Most of his energy has been devoted to Jay County’s owner-occupied rehabilitation program, a $1 million effort toward repairing homes with new roofs, heaters or other necessities. The program is funded through American Rescue Plan Act dollars and a grant from Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

Kimball plans to help his replacement take over the owner-occupied rehabilitation program.

“My main priority for this person is to have them be able to take over the OOR, allow them not to leave these people high and dry,” he said. “It’s a million-dollar program, and it needs to be able to get out the doors.”

Aker pointed to past tensions between commissioners and Jay County Development Corporation, which previously received funding from the county annually and employed a director of community development — a similar role to Kimball’s — before the role was cut after Christy Shauver resigned in 2022. JCDC and commissioners have been in contract negotiations for more than a year.

He noted conversations with JCDC president Angela Paxson and shared his excitement about working with JCDC and ECIRP moving forward. 

“I think it’s going to be good for Jay County,” Aker said. “We feel that we can work together with (JCDC and ECIRP) and just be a benefit for the county and repair some of this damage that’s been done in the past couple years here, and I think we’re ready to move past that at this point.”

Kimball also addressed strains between the county and JCDC over the last year and a half. The way Jay County residents have treated him despite tensions, he said, impressed him.

“I think it’s no secret that people have been butting heads and things like that, but I will say I’ve been highly impressed by the people of Jay County, especially those who may not have been overly thrilled that ECI was in the county for their own reasons,” he said. “No one has, at least to my face, no one has spoken down to me or poorly of me, and I find that very, I guess, reassuring, that people in Jay County still wanted to be kind and be respectful, they just respectfully disagreed, and I thought that was very nice amidst the turmoil that has been occurring…”

“I’ve very much enjoyed being able to take that away from this position, you know, people are still wanting to work toward at least common peace, and I think that’s been very reassuring,” he added.