Jay County adopts ordinance vacating portions of Center Street and Water Street in New Corydon

The Jay County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously March 10 to adopt Ordinance 2025-05, vacating a portion of Center Street in New Corydon and all of Water Street.

The ordinance follows a petition from Jon Spencer to vacate the alleyway area between two parcels he owns in New Corydon, Wabash Township. The petition was noticed in The Commercial Review and opened for public comment at the March 10 meeting. Adjacent landowners Dan Mock, Andrew Yoder and Christopher Kelly attended the hearing; Yoder asked whether Broadway would also be vacated. County attorney Wes Schemenaur clarified the action applies only to the full length of Water Street and the segment of Center Street advertised between the petitioner’s parcels and noted a power-company easement remains in place, preventing private structures in the vacated alley.

Commissioner Doug Horn moved to approve the ordinance; Commissioner Duane Monroe seconded, and the motion passed by unanimous vote. Under the ordinance, adjoining landowners will each acquire half of the newly vacated street area adjacent to their parcel.

The commissioners found the vacation would not eliminate public access to any church, school or public building nor would it adversely affect police or fire protection. The ordinance identifies the vacated area by reference to lots and blocks in the New Corydon plat. The board’s approval completes the local process; no further local action was recorded at the meeting.

The board’s vote followed the public hearing and applicant petition; questions from neighboring property owners were addressed before the motion to adopt was carried.