More projects receive approval

More bids, more home repairs.

Jay County Commissioners approved more than $348,000 in projects Monday for residents participating in the owner-occupied rehabilitation program.

Created with a $1 million Office of Community and Rural Affairs grant, the program is intended to make necessary repairs or upgrades to residents’ homes throughout the county. Work could include roof, water heater or heating ventilation and air conditioning unit replacements, electrical work or upgrades to make a home more accessible. Projects are limited to $25,000 per household.

The county put out a request for proposals for 37 properties in this round. Fourteen properties had fully responsive bids, with 12 properties receiving partially responsive bids — only some of the scope of work was encompassed — 10 properties getting bids at more than the $25,000 limit and one property with no offers.

Approximately 117 total bids were received by the county, with offers from All Circuit Electrical of Bryant, Dave's Heating & Cooling of Portland, Mooreland Roofing and Construction of Richmond, Mustard Seed Remodeling of Portland and Fortitude Design and Consulting of Evansville. Fortitude Design and Consulting’s offers made up the largest amount at $146,521 for 17 projects.

Egis recommended accepting offers for projects on 21 properties. Consultant Mike Kleinpeter assured county officials that the work will be completed by the Aug. 30 deadline. Commissioners then OK’d president Chad Aker to sign contracts for the work.

Relatedly, commissioners also approved an amendment to a grant administration contract with Kleinpeter, who has been working with the county on its owner-occupied rehabilitation program. He noted extra work put into the project — the county underwent environmental reviews for all 70 homes that applied, although not all of them received funding, as well as other changes. His additional cost came to $12,005.

Also Monday, commissioners agreed to pursue a road use agreement with Minnich Poultry related to construction on its new feed mill and biochar manufacturing and distribution plant in Noble Township.

Jay County Council recently granted the rural Portland company, which also includes Minnich Eggs and Reier Pullets, five-year tax abatements related to the upcoming additions.

According to tax abatement forms, the estimated start date for construction is Sept. 1.

Jay/Portland Building and Planning director John Hemmelgarn pointed to the proposed construction and suggested a road use agreement with the company. He noted Minnich Poultry will need a special exemption from Jay County Board of Zoning Appeals before moving forward but suggested the road use agreement be put in place first.

Commissioner Duane Monroe voiced concerns about the agreement hindering the company’s plans, saying the company hasn’t damaged the roads in the past.

“They could very easily build on the other side of the state line,” he said.

Hemmelgarn said the company was open to discussion, and Aker advised commissioners heed the building and planning department’s advice.

“I don’t think it hurts to have that conversation,” Aker added.

Commissioners also scheduled a public hearing and special meeting at 4 p.m. July 21 to discuss whether to enact one-year moratoriums on wind farms and geological carbon sequestration projects.

Renewable energy company RWE Clean Energy, a subsidiary of electricity company RWE Group, is planning to construct a 200-megawatt wind farm in Jay County. Hopes are for the wind farm to be operational in 2031. 

Ethanol plant POET Bioprocessing is working on a geological carbon sequestration project. It would involve drilling a nearly 4,000 foot well and injecting carbon dioxide — it’s a byproduct from creating ethanol — into the well over the next several years.

Jay County Plan Commission last month recommended enacting up to a one-year moratorium on wind farms. It also recommended not to enact a moratorium on geological carbon sequestration projects.

Jay/Portland Building and Planning director Pati McLaughlin noted if commissioners don’t act on plan commission’s recommendations, they will go into effect as is within 90 days.

In other business, commissioners:

•OK’d a three-year agreement with Ford Pro Intelligence to outfit Jay County Highway Department’s vehicles with cameras. The department’s 43 vehicles will be outfitted with cameras, which will be maintained for $19,272 annually. Auditor Emily Franks noted the county will need to consider outfitting other department vehicles in order to meet insurance qualifications moving forward.

•Rescheduled their second meeting in July to 9 a.m. July 30.

•Heard about bridge construction planned on Indiana 18 just east of Bryant starting Nov. 13. The state detour will utilize U.S. 27, Indiana 218 and Ohio 49. Highway superintendent Bob Howell noted the local detour is currently slated to use county road 600 North, which also serves as Main Street in Bryant. He planned to work with Indiana Department of Transportation to look into adjusting the local detour’s route. 

•Heard a monthly update from Jay Emergency Medical Service director Gary Barnett. He noted the department completed 190 runs in May, with 165 runs coming from 911 calls. Approximately 20 runs were transferred to hospitals outside of Jay County, with six of those runs flagged as emergent, and 61 runs ended with patient refusals. Barnett also shared the department’s monthly financial breakdown. JEMS had $195,186.15 in expenses and $75,096.30 in income.

•Learned about a bridge replacement on Indiana 26 east of U.S. 27 planned for spring 2027.

•Agreed to move forward with establishing a $10 fee for permanent commercial and residential driveway permits, with commissioners to formally approve the change in August. (Temporary driveway permits have been $10 for years.)