(5-16-24) On Tuesday the Portland (Indiana) Commercial Review filed a formal complaint with the Office of the Public Access Counselor regarding commissioners’ May 2 administrative meeting.against the Jay County Commissioners.

Commercial Review story – The CR files a formal complaint

The Commercial Review called the discussion of the county’s proposed contract with Jay County Development Corporation at the May 2 “administrative” meeting into question after it received a tip
May 3 that the meeting occurred.

The May 2nd minutes were approved at the May 13th meeting, but have not yet been placed on the Jay County web site.

The Commercial Review complaint asserted that the discussion of the proposed contract with Jay County Development Corporation is not “routine” and is not “reasonably related to the everyday internal management of the county.”

An opinion piece from local attorney appeared in today’s Commercial Review from Wesley A. Schemenaur on the situation – Attorney defends commissioners.

Portion of the opinion piece —

Finally, I take issue with the ultimatum that Mr. Cooney has presented. If Mr. Cooney believed an ODL violation occurred, he should have filed his complaint as outlined in Indiana law. That did not happen here. The public access counselor’s job is to issue opinions on a violation of the law after an investigation. However, Mr. Cooney has already tainted this process by seeking an opinion from the public access counselor outside of the formal complaint process which allows for a response to a complaint by the county prior to the issuance of an opinion. Mr. Cooney contacted the public access counselor directly, gave the counselor one side of the story and quoted the counselor in his newspaper article. He even quotes the public access counselor in his demand letter. If this were a judicial proceeding, this type of communication with the finder of fact.

Rex Journay (North District), President Chad Aker (Center District) and Brian McGalliard (South District)

The three county commissioners are President Chad Aker (Center District), Brian McGalliard (South District) and Rex Journay (North District). The next regular meeting of the Commissioners is scheduled for May 27th.