Nearing closure

The remaining residents at Jay County Country Living plan to move out within the next two weeks.

Employees will be receiving additional wages for helping with efforts to close the facility by the end of the year.

Jay County Council approved the 2026 salary ordinance and an amendment that lists incentive pay amounts for living facility employees Wednesday. Council members also made an $82,000 additional appropriation for the severance bonuses.

Jay County Country Living director Stacey Johnson reported to council Wednesday that the residents still living at the facility are slated to leave within the next two weeks.

“It’s been a lot of work, but my staff is awesome,” Johnson said.

Council president Matt Minnich and vice president Cindy Bracy both expressed shock at the news of residents’ early departure. Plans had been for residents to move out by the end of the year. They both commended Johnson and staff for their efforts.

“I know there’s a lot of challenges and definitely a lot of emotions,” Minnich said.

County officials have mulled over whether to continue funding and operating the residential center for years, pointing to tax dollars and liability issues. Jay County Country Living Advisory Board recommended in June that the county close the facility. Jay County Commissioners followed suit, deciding on a 2-1 vote in August to close the facility by Dec. 31, 2026. Council moved that deadline up to June 30, 2026, when it approved the 2026 budget in October and allocated half the living facility’s regular annual amount.

Johnson said the facility could close as soon as the end of this year and asked officials to consider severance pay for employees who chose to stay until the last day. Commissioners agreed in October to provide the equivalent of four months’ worth of additional pay to workers if the facility closes by Dec. 31.

Johnson expressed that she’s grateful the facility began relocating residents as soon as possible instead of waiting until next year. She said the process helped to ease worries for all those involved. She also talked about the incentive pay, saying she wanted to make sure employees were taken care of amid the holidays and the gap between their current job and future endeavors.

Bracy, who also has served as president of Jay County Country Living Advisory Board, mentioned she visited the facility Monday for a meeting. She spoke highly of Johnson’s leadership amid the transition.

“I did a floor-to-ceiling walkthrough, and the facility was looking wonderful,” she said. “I just want to commend you, coming up with, these were people, these were beating hearts, and we appreciated that. And as far as public concerns, this was not a decision that was made lightly or easily, and it was the best thing for the county, and it’s the best thing for them, and we have a new future.”

Council approved the 2026 salary ordinance. They also made an $82,000 additional appropriation for the bonuses.

In other business, council members Bryan Alexander, Randy May, Matt Minnich, Harold Towell, Cindy Bracy and Michael Brewster, absent Faron Parr:

•Reviewed Jay County Redevelopment Commission’s draft capital plan, with Bracy emphasizing projects for a public safety building, new emergency responder radios and upgrades to the highway department’s garage. Alexander questioned the timeline for Jay County Solid Waste Management District’s new building, pointing out the plan lists a $300,000 allocation to the district in 2031. (The project is expected to begin next year.)

•Made the following additional appropriations: $49,560 in Jay County Solid Waste Management District’s budget for land; $40,000 for various furniture and equipment repairs at Jay County Courthouse; $7,500 for additional sealant work at the courthouse; $7,050 for Ritter Strategic Services’ work with the emergency responder radio project; $5,200 for courthouse maintenance supervisor pay through the end of the year; $4,894.87 from a donation for Jay County Country Living; $1,000 for equipment repair at Jay County Surveyor’s Office; and $361.73 for surveyor’s office excavator fees.

•Approved several transfers, including $19,000 between Jay County Country Living’s funds for housekeeper supervisor wages to part-time wages, $15,000 between Jay County Country Living’s funds for overtime wages to wages laborers and $1,000 in Jay County Superior Court’s funds for overtime wages to translator wages.

•Appointed Carolyn Journay to Jay County Public Library Board.