Additional funding approved

The county will be looking into switching to the statewide radio system as well as implementing a stand-alone radio system.

Jay County Council on a split 3-2 vote agreed to pay an additional $39,600 for public safety firm Ritter Strategic Services to look into costs and other information regarding joining the Integrated Public Safety Commission’s system or purchasing a stand-alone system.

Council president Matt Minnich noted the nearly $40,000 amendment to the county’s original $178,500 contract with Ritter Strategic Services — it was approved by Jay County Commissioners in February — includes looking into a system that would work for non-public safety entities, such as Jay County Highway Department.

 Ritter Strategic Services completed a study on the county’s emergency responder radios previously and recommended Jay County shift to the statewide system. Commissioners in July approved a contract with the company to move forward with planning, procurement, engineering, project management and other work related to switching to the Integrated Public Safety Commission's statewide radio system.

Council member Michael Brewster — he works as an officer at Portland Police Department — and council member Bryan Alexander both pointed out representatives from local public safety entities have voiced a desire to move to the statewide system.

“I may use the system because the city police do, but is anybody else going to be using the radio system on this county council?” said Brewster. “No. I mean, (Sheriff Ray Newton), you’re going to be using this system, right? The sheriff’s department is. The fire departments are going to be using this system. So again, it goes back to what system does our local agency want to use?”

Council president Matt Minnich noted the $39,600 factors in the cost to research into radio systems that may be used by non-emergency personnel. Brewster recalled the Integrated Public Safety Commission is looking into adjusting its policy, which previously didn’t allow non-emergency responders on the statewide system for day-to-day business. 

Integrated Public Safety Commission statewide interoperability coordinator Andrea Baughn told commissioners in February the commission is considering allowing county highway departments to use the system.

Minnich said the option the commission is proposing for non-emergency personnel may not be as in-depth as the county needs.

“I think $40,000 is a pretty small price to pay for a $1 million-ish project that has the potential to give you multiple bids that, even if all it does is bring the IPSC system down in cost, it was worth that,” he said.

He added the county needs to look into a new radio system for non-emergency personnel and said it makes sense to pursue information now while radio discussions are happening.

Alexander pointed to the decision to move forward with the contract in July without adjusting the scope in services to look into a second option.

“It just was, maybe, I don’t know if it was haste, if it was enlightenment through the process, but looking back we wish we would’ve put it in,” he said. “It was a mistake not to. Not to blame anyone, because maybe it was an awareness thing …”

He agreed with Minnich’s perspective but said despite his vote he supports the implementation of the system desired by public safety officials.

Council agreed, with Brewster and Harold Towell opposing and Cindy Bracy absent, to pay for the amendment to the contract.

Also Wednesday, council approved a resolution to allow council members to attend meetings virtually.

The new policy lays out stipulations for virtual attendance, which lines up with rules set forth in Indiana Code. At least 50% of the governing body to be present in person to allow for electronic participation. Council members may not attend more than 50% of their meetings remotely in a calendar year, and they also may not attend more than two meetings in a row virtually — exceptions to that rule include situations caused by military service, illness or medical conditions, death of a relative or an emergency involving actual or threatened injury to people or property.

Council members must give at least five days notice to the Jay County auditor and council president in advance of the meeting to participate virtually.

Per the policy, council members may not participate in a meeting remotely if final action is being taken to adopt a budget, initiate a referendum, establish or increase a fee or penalty, use eminent domain authority, reduce personnel or establish or raise or renew a tax. Also, executive meetings must remain-in person.

In other business, council members Faron Parr, Randy May, Alexander, Brewster, Minnich and Towell:

•Made $63,000 in additional appropriations (Towell dissenting) for economic development income tax (EDIT) dollars approved by commissioners to be awarded to local entities. They include $35,000 for John Jay Center for Learning’s High School Equivalency classes, $15,000 for Arts Place’s Arts in the Parks program, $10,000 for Fourth of July events and $3,000 for East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center.

•Made the following other additional appropriations: $75,000 for building, liability and vehicle insurance; $28,830 (Towell dissenting) for renovations to the men’s downstairs restroom at Jay County Country Living; $13,150 in National Opioid Settlement dollars for planning related to renovating a house at 422 W. Votaw St. into The Vision on Votaw recovery home; $5,000 for training at Jay County Sheriff’s Office; $5,000 for transcripts in Jay Circuit Court; $1,600 for Jay County Community Corrections executive director wages, $1,500 for deputy director wages, $347.33 for employer Public Employees’ Retirement Fund and $164.51 for employer Social Security; and $1,100.03 (Towell opposed) for design, planning and architectural firm Rundell, Ernstberger and Associates’ professional services in planning development of the county’s 68 acres on the west side of Portland.

•Heard Towell volunteered to represent council along with Alexander in meetings with Portland representatives and other county officials regarding the 68 acres and its development.

•Appointed Alexander and Reda Theurer-Miller to Jay County Visitors & Tourism Bureau Board. 

•Transferred $647, $359 and $261 from Jay County Health Department’s equipment maintenance contract fund to the medical supplies, office supplies and office equipment funds, respectively. Health department administrator and environmentalist Heath Butz noted the money comes from an annual state grant and must be used by June.