Considering safety facility

County officials believe they’ll need to get a bond in order to pay for police radio upgrades.

While they’re at it, they’ll also look into costs to construct a bigger building for a few county departments.

Jay County Commissioners agreed Monday to seek requests for proposals for constructing a public safety facility.

For years, officials have discussed constructing a multi-faceted building to serve as a hub for Jay Emergency Medical Service, Jay County Health Department and Jay County Coroner’s Office. Department heads have voiced concerns with commissioners in recent years about their current buildings, with Jay Emergency Medical Service and the health department requesting more square footage and the coroner’s office asking for a more accessible building. (The coroner’s office is currently located in Jay County Courthouse, while the health department is located on Arch Street and the EMS building is on Creagor Avenue adjacent to IU Health Jay.)

Commissioners president Chad Aker said Monday he thinks the county will need to establish a bond in order to pay for upgrades to the county’s emergency responder radio system, a multi-million dollar project. (Ritter Strategic Services is currently working for the county to seek quotes for stand-alone systems as well as quotes for a system connected to the Integrated Public Safety Commission’s system.)

While the county is looking into bonding, Aker suggested commissioners also see how much it would cost to construct the public safety facility.

Commissioner Doug Horn asked if there’s an alternative to the problem, such as purchasing an existing structure. Aker said he and others have been looking into alternatives for years but have run out of options.

Commissioners Aker, Horn and Duane Monroe then agreed to move forward with seeking proposals.

Also Monday, commissioners tabled a potential ordinance establishing a reimbursement fund for Jay County Jail.

County attorney Wes Schemenaur explained the ordinance would create a prisoner reimbursement fund, allowing the sheriff to charge inmates at the jail a daily fee set by Jay County Council. Sheriff Ray Newton noted the dollars would be used for maintenance and upkeep at the jail, pointing out various equipment in need of replacing.

“It’s just things that, I’m trying to look ahead generating funds,” said Newton.

Schemenaur mentioned a few questions still need to be answered about the ordinance and suggested commissioners table it until their next meeting, with commissioners agreeing to do so.

Relatedly, Aker asked Newton on Monday how many inmates on average the jail has been housing. Its population as of Monday sat at 44 inmates, the lowest Newton said he has seen in the last 16 or more years. He estimated the average sits around 39 inmates on the weekends.

Commissioners also heard about recording issues with Jay County Sheriff’s Office phones. Bill Baldwin, 911 director, talked about potentially installing larger fiber optic cables at the jail, saying jail officials are working to get costs for the project.

Also, commissioners approved a one-year, $33,840 agreement with Vialytics for rating roads.

The program allows the county to handle the work in-house while automating the process. It could be downloaded on smartphones, and those devices may be attached to a mount on Jay County Highway Department vehicles’ windshields. Users can then record their routes.

The application captures photos every 10 to 12 feet while driving at 40 mph, with photos uploaded to a database once the smartphone connects to the internet.

The AI program identifies and classifies 15 types of road damage while also detecting and documenting defective traffic signs, manhole covers and water drains.

In other business, commissioners:

•Approved the following: a $53,624.04 change order with Hays and Sons Complete Restoration of Muncie for renovation work in Jay County Courthouse; a $36,400 expense to have engineering firm EGIS inspect work as it progresses on the Seventh Street bridge in Portland; purchasing a $108,185.82 mini excavator for Jay County Highway Department, along with up to $20,000 in additional equipment; an annual report on congressional school interest to be sent to the Department of Education; a Jay County Purdue Extension office employee to attend 4-H camp at the end of May, with the work load not to exceed seven hours; an annual financial report to be sent to Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program; and new Jay Emergency Medical Service director Jessica Curtis to have authorized access to the department’s bank account and use the department’s credit card.

•Tabled decision on repairs to a small structure on county road 300 North, with highway department administrative assistant Stephanie Klarer noting the estimated cost at around $645,000.

•Signed a grant application for LifeStream Services’ 2026 budget, which comes to approximately $1.3 million. Jay County contributes $52,000 toward the service annually.

•OK’d Jay County coroner Brayden Fields to seek quotes for a new vehicle for his office.

•Received a quarterly update from Jay and Portland Building and Planning director John Hemmelgarn. As of April 30, 89 building permits have been issued, with 59 of those in rural areas of Jay County. There have also been six new home permits— five of them are in rural areas of the county — and 11 commercial use permits.

•Learned Mustard Seed Remodeling started bathroom renovations at Jay County Country Living last week.

•Heard about a three-year-old inspection report of Jay County Country Living, which listed several safety hazards and building deficiencies. (The report has resurfaced among the public recently. Core Facilities president Matt Stechly completed the report, with copies shared at a joint Jay County Council and Jay County Commissioners session in February 2022.) Hemmelgarn said the report lists concerns that are not relevant. “That’s a good solid building, there’s a good roof on it,” he said. “Things are in pretty good shape for the building that it is.”