Commissioners name Doug Ehmen new county planner

The new Putnam County planner will not have to alter his commute in assuming his new duties this week.

On Monday, the Putnam County Commissioners hired Doug Ehmen as the county planner, replacing Sandy Amers, who resigned in May.

Ehmen has worked the last seven years as the environmental health specialist and public health coordinator for the Putnam County Health Department.

Since late 2011, the two departments have shared office space at Putnam County Hospital, so Ehmen is familiar with the work Amers was performing as planner.

He comes in without a lot of formal experience in planning and zoning, although he said there was some dovetailing between his and Amers' duties.

"I needed a change of pace. I was looking for additional challenges," Ehmen told the Banner Graphic. "The learning curve is going to be huge."

In hiring Ehmen, Commissioner David Berry, who made the motion, said the commissioners saw the qualities they wanted in Ehmen's background, which included time as a jet mechanic.

"He just seemed to be very well organized," Berry said. "Researching his resume, he's detail-oriented and very organized. Those were two things we thought were very important for this planning and zoning director, considering the number of ordinances and regulations they have to keep straight.

"Also, given the fact that he's already in that office, he knows what's going on."

Ehmen said that issuing building permits is just a small part of his duties. Among his first tasks will be learning the functions of the two boards he will oversee and assist, the planning commission and the board of zoning appeals.

Additionally, he said there is much to learn about the use variances and special exceptions the boards administer.

Another challenge, Ehmen said, is in looking at the processes of the planning and zoning department and seeing what upgrades and updates are needed.

"I'd really like to streamline the way we do things in the office," Ehmen said. "The system kind of goes back to the '90s, when zoning originated in Putnam County."

Ehmen's hire will affect employees in two other county departments as well.

It first leaves an opening in his former position, which Joni Young of the health department requested permission to fill. With that permission granted, she also requested, and was granted, permission to fill Lisa Zeiner's health department position, as director Dr. Robert Heavin is likely to move Zeiner to Ehmen's old job.

Jessica Jones will also be hired by Ehmen as the new administrative assistant in planning and zoning. This leaves a vacancy in Jones' old job in the microfilm office.

Microfilm director Kathleen Van Arsdale was granted permission to fill that position.

In other business:

* Young approached the commissioners about the possibility of selling a number of items no longer in use in the health department, including several filing cabinets and a small school desk.

This led to a larger discussion of auctioning surplus county property, including old and seized vehicles. While a vehicle auction is scheduled later this year, the commissioners said they would like to see an auction conducted that also includes excess office equipment and other goods no longer of use to the county.

* James Champion of Greencastle was granted permission to read the Declaration of Independence on the courthouse steps on July 4. This will mark the third year Champion has performed the gesture.

Champion said he would like to keep the tradition going each year.

The 10 a.m. courthouse reading will be one of two for Champion on the day. He will also be reading the Declaration at Robe-Ann Park at 5:45 p.m. as part of the city's Celebrate 4 festivities.

* The commissioners reappointed Dr. Keith Ernst to the Putnam County Hospital Board. His term will run through July 6, 2018.

* Highway department Supervisor Mike Ricketts said culvert work on Walker Lane should be completed by Wednesday.

Additionally, Bridge 13 on the Morton-Russellville Road in Russell Township should open on Wednesday. However, the road will be reduced to one-lane traffic on Wednesday, June 25, as work is completed.