By HOLLY GASKILL
The final renovation items at the Wells County Jail remain to be completed more than a year from its official completion date.
Sheriff Scott Holliday told the County Commissioners in December that representatives from Ameresco, the company in charge of the project, had contacted about wrapping up billing. Holliday said he did not want to do so until the final punch list items were complete.
On Tuesday, Holliday said a representative may be present at the commissioners’ Jan. 16 meeting to discuss final billing. County Attorney Ted Storer affirmed the county could not comply until the work had been completed, and Commissioner Jeff Stringer indicated there could be lessened payment for late work.
The remaining items do not interrupt daily operations, Holliday reported. For example, the HVAC system in the intake and conference rooms has not been regulated for winter, and the temperature swings constantly.
As of Tuesday, there were 67 inmates in the jail, 29 of which were pre-trial holds from the Wells County Circuit Court, 17 from the Superior Court, 13 from the Department of Correction and four Level 6 felons.
Meanwhile, Highway Supervisor Shawn Bonar reported significant work has been completed on the new county highway garage. Bonar has walked through the property to identify final items and expects construction will be completed in February on schedule. Some equipment has already been moved into the cold storage building.
Bonar said the department has also been able to continue road conversion work, given the amenable weather.
As their first meeting of the year, the commissioners reorganized the board’s leadership. Commissioner Mike Vanover motioned for Stringer to serve as the board’s president and he as the board’s vice president, trading places from the previous leadership. This was seconded by Commissioner Blake Gerber and passed unanimously.
Preceding their regular meeting, the commissioners agreed to retain their organization of the drainage board. They also approved suspending the collection of the following watersheds: Gregg, Griffin, Hunnicutt, Hupp, Kasler, Lee No. 1, Messick No. 2, Prairie Creek Extension, Simmerman, Solomon First, Somers, Sprang, Tewell and Upper Somers.
Other items were:
• Jennifer Brink, 920 River Rd. in Bluffton, encouraged the commissioners and health board to hold additional meetings to discuss Health First Indiana. The county can opt-in for the second year of health department funding until June 1; the state has allocated $150 million through the program in 2025.
• Clarence Ostrander, 1533 W Cherry St. in Bluffton, asked for an update regarding a county-owned property adjacent to his. Thomas previously told the commissioners he had solely maintained the property for a while and wanted ownership of the land. Gerber advised the county was working on the matter, but that it would take some time to sort out.
• The commissioners tabled a decision regarding the county’s ADA coordinator and agreed to maintain its current appointments to the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development boards.
• The commissioners approved Resolution 2024-01 to allow a Northern Tool and Equipment credit account for equipment purchases.
holly@news-banner.com
