By Holly Gaskill
While there has been reported progress in final items to the Wells County Jail’s renovation, the Board of Commissioners may take further action to complete the work.
The jail’s renovation project began in 2021 and was largely completed in 2023. Since then, multiple finishing items, like regulating heating and cooling, have remained incomplete. In March, the county told contractor Ameresco they would hold a final payment of $40,000 as a contingency.
During the commissioners’ meeting Monday, Sheriff Scott Holliday reported that representatives had been working remotely on the HVAC issue, but that he wanted to see “boots on the ground” for the problems. Commissioner Blake Gerber suggested placing a deadline of Thanksgiving, then Commissioner Jeff Stringer said the county could complete the work and bill Ameresco accordingly.
On Monday, Holliday reported 82 inmates housed in the jail — 36 were pre-trial holds for the Circuit Court, 24 pre-trial holds for the Superior Court, 20 from the Department of Correction, and three Level 6 felons.
Also Monday, Stringer stated the Highway Department’s new garage building encountered a roof leak, but said project manager Conor Jackson would see the item fixed.
The commissioners also reviewed a contract for small structure inspections with USI Consultants. County Attorney Ted Storer recommended the four-year contract be amended for year-to-year renewal and USI rep Beth Johnson noted that the contract outlined a four-year schedule. They agreed to review the contract and present it at an upcoming meeting.
They later approved a health insurance renewal 2;0 with the Physicians Health Plan of Northern Indiana with a 0% increased cost to the county. The county will also receive a $70,000 wellness credit. Stringer and Gerber were in favor; Commissioner Mike Vanover was absent.
In a quarterly update on the Wells County Public Library, board of trustees member Matt Yergler said the library currently has 14,292 cardholders — 54% of the population. “Sometimes a family just has one, so we’re reaching well over half the population,” Yergler said.
Yerlger also reported high numbers in all areas of circulation — at the close of the third quarter, the library has circulated nearly as many physical materials as all four quarters in 2023.
holly@news-banner.com
