Jay County attorney to circulate proposed right-of-way ordinance update; surveyor urges per-boring permits

County attorney Wes Schemenaur told the Jay County Commissioners on June 8 that he will circulate a proposed update to the county right-of-way ordinance to address borings and road cuts.

Brad Daniels, the county surveyor, recommended requiring a permit for each boring rather than issuing a single permit per project; he said if work does not involve boring the permit should be based on distance. The draft language discussed in the meeting would set a $500 permit fee for commercial or utility borings (except for maintaining existing poles) and a $50 permit fee for residential or agricultural tube installations. Commissioners discussed splitting most of the proposed fees between two departments while remitting driveway-permit revenue solely to the highway department.

Schemenaur said the amendment would also reallocate some permitting authority to the Surveyor and the Highway Supervisor. Commissioners asked for the proposed ordinance to be circulated for review; no formal vote on the ordinance was taken at the meeting.

Next steps include circulation of the proposed language to the commissioners for comment and subsequent consideration at a future meeting. The county did not provide a schedule for formal introduction or adoption in the minutes excerpt.