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Resident raises concern about Little Salamonia Church demolition; attorney cites Portland jurisdiction

Jay County Commissioners · February 23, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Susan Kaelin told commissioners about the planned demolition of Little Salamonia Church and raised concerns about graves nearby; county attorney Wes Schemenaur said the site falls under Portland's jurisdiction (2-mile radius) and that state permits such as IDEM may apply.

Susan Kaelin, a board member, told the commissioners she wanted to raise awareness about the demolition of Little Salamonia Church and said the nearest grave is close to 30 feet; she said she "believes the law requires a minimum of 300 feet." County attorney Wes Schemenaur responded that the property falls within the city of Portland's two-mile jurisdictional radius, that the county shares building and planning functions with the city, but that local code does not require permitting for the demolition. Schemenaur added that state agencies such as IDEM might require additional permits.

The minutes record Kaelin's concern about graves near the site and the attorney's clarification about jurisdiction and potential state permitting. The record does not show a formal county action tied to the demolition request; Kaelin's claim about a 300-foot legal requirement was not confirmed in the minutes and was described as her belief.