Deal not renewed

Jay County will not renew its contract with East Central Indiana Regional Planning District.

Jay County Commissioners voted 2-1 against entering into another two-year contract with East Central Indiana Regional Planning District during their meeting Wednesday.

East Central Indiana Regional Planning District’s current contract with the county expires this month.

The organization’s duties for the county over the last two years have included hiring a community coordinator — the role is currently occupied by Jay County resident Darlesia Lee — to work out of Portland’s Community Resource Center and attend local meetings to learn more about the county’s needs as they relate to grants.

The original contract with East Central Indiana Regional Planning District came in conjunction with commissioners eliminating funding for the community developer position through Jay County Development Corporation. It was part of a contract between the county and JCDC.

According to the $200,000 contract approved in August 2023, the organization would provide administrative support and services related to economic development projects, identify and work with consulting firms, assist commissioners in vetting and identifying projects, work with local officials and be available for meetings as needed.

East Central Indiana Regional Planning District had been working with Jay County since at least September 2022, when commissioners agreed to pay a $6,000 fee to participate again with the regional planning district. (Prior to 2022, the county hadn’t been participating in the district since March 2017. Then-commissioner Chuck Huffman pointed to grant writers the county already employed, including then community developer Ami Huffman and emergency management agency director Ralph Frazee, both of whom have since left their roles.)

Regional planning district director Bill Walters talked with commissioners Wednesday about projects the organization is working on currently, including plans to pursue various Community Crossings grants for paving roads and streets in Jay County municipalities as well as grants for Redkey Morgan Park and building work in Dunkirk.

Some of its other efforts have included working with consulting firms Egis of Indianapolis and Kleinpeter Consulting to spend about $1 million allocated for the county’s owner-occupied rehabilitation program, which has resulted in renovations to about 55 homes in Jay County. (Commissioners approved additional bids for the project on Wednesday.)

Walters and commissioners president Chad Aker talked about other ongoing efforts, such as networking, workforce retention and attracting new businesses to the community.

“Two years ago, when we came in here, you didn’t have any of these things on the table, it was all conversation going back,” Walters said. “A lot of things have happened in the two years, there was some rough spots, hammering things out, details, but it’s just communication, having a talk. We’re not going to get everything … it’s just finding that little line where we can keep pushing forward a little bit at a time, and I think you guys have made good progress in the last two years.”

Aker said he believes the county has had a good working relationship with the organization. Commissioner Doug Horn questioned whether the county needed two organizations — Jay County Development Corporation and East Central Indiana Regional Planning District — doing similar work.

Aker pointed to the planning district’s larger number of grant writers and connections with the region. He also noted Jay County Development Corporation hasn’t filled the former community developer role. He reminded commissioners about a 60-day out-clause in the contract.

“We want to be beneficial, if we’re not beneficial to the county, providing you a benefit, we shouldn’t be here,” said Walters.

Answering a question from Horn, Walters said the organization — it currently participates with Delaware, Grant, Blackford and Jay counties — has taken in about $1 million and, in turn, secured about $15 million in grants.

Commissioner Duane Monroe, who appeared via video call at Wednesday’s meeting, said he’s in support of continued participation with the regional planning district but not in support of another two-year contract.

Commissioners Horn and Monroe then voted against approving a new contract, with Aker dissenting.

Walters told commissioners the planning district would continue working with Kleinpeter Consulting to finish out the owner-occupied rehabilitation program. (The work per grant guidelines must be completed by the end of September.)

In related news, commissioners also approved another round of bids for the county’s owner-occupied rehabilitation program.

Following a recommendation from Egis, the county will spend $113,787.08 on at least eight more homes. That leaves approximately $5,000 remaining of the program’s funding, with an Egis representative noting the leftover dollars leave a “cushion” in case of unexpected expenses.

A majority of the program’s dollars came from a $1 million Office of Community and Rural Affairs grant. The program was intended to make necessary repairs or upgrades to Jay County residents’ homes, with work to include roof, water heater or heating ventilation and air conditioning unit replacements, electrical work or upgrades to make a home more accessible.

Walters estimated the county made renovations to approximately 55 homes over the course of the program.

Commissioners also tabled a decision on whether to move forward with architectural plans for building a public safety facility on the western edge of Portland. Aker noted the county received the following costs from architectural firms: Elevatus between $129,000 and $193,500, RQAW Corporation at $210,000, Peterson Architecture at $195,000, American Structurepoint up to $331,500, MartinRiley at $203,000 and MSS Engineering at $119,000. (QTM did not submit an estimated price.) 

Aker suggested moving forward with architectural designs. Horn and Monroe both voiced concern about funding the project, which would provide a larger space for Jay County Health Department, Jay Emergency Medical Service and Jay County Coroner’s Office.

Monroe said while he’s not against the project, he also disagreed on current plans to build the facility on the county’s 68 acres along Votaw Street on the west side of Portland. He suggested expanding the current Portland base instead, with Aker noting the property is owned by IU Health.

Commissioners Horn and Monroe voted to table the proposals, with Aker dissenting.

In other business, commissioners:

•Designated Jay County Development Corporation to handle the request for proposals process for development of the county’s 68 acres in Portland.

•Heard a request from Jay County High School students Adam Kessler and Chris Bell and Jay County Council member Cindy Bracy to install flashing lights or make other signage adjustments along county road 700 East as it approaches Indiana 26.

•Approved the following: a $75,000 contract with Jay County Humane Society for animal control services in 2026; a roughly $14,400 contract with Leap Managed IT for information technology services; utilizing Schneider Geospatial (also known as Beacon) for geographic information system (GIS) and web-based property information services; LifeStream Services to purchase two buses for $290,012 — most of the cost is paid for through state funds; purchasing approximately $1,500 worth of equipment and supplies in order to refurbish two defibrillators and install them on the second and third floors of Jay County Courthouse (currently there is only one defibrillators in the building); Jay County Health Department’s annual application for a state bioterrorism grant; and three Jay County Assessor’s Office employees to spend three nights at an August summer conference in Fort Wayne.

•Heard a monthly financial breakdown from Jay Emergency Medical Service director Gary Barnett. JEMS had $130,235.81 in expenses and $66,875.95 in income.

•Received a corporate partner award from LifeStream Services in commemoration of its 50th anniversary.