County seeks applicants for board spots

Among the dozens of board appointments the Putnam County Commissioners make each year, five remain open for the term beginning Tuesday, Jan. 3.

The commissioners are seeking applicants for a pair of open positions on the Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau board as well as one each on the Putnam County Airport Authority board, Floyd Township Fire Protection District and Greencastle Planning Commission.

The CVB appointments are for two years, expiring on Jan. 7, 2019.

The Airport Authority position is a three-year appointment expiring on Jan. 6, 2020.

The Floyd Township Fire Protection District is a four-year term expiring Jan. 4, 2021. Applicants must be from Floyd Township.

The Greencastle Planning Commission seat is a four-year term expiring Jan. 4, 2021. Applicants must be from the city of Greencastle.

Letters of interest for the vacancies must be submitted to the Putnam County Auditor by Jan. 31. The commissioners plan to make their appointments during their 9:30 a.m. meeting on Monday, Feb. 6.

The commissioners made a number of other appointments at their most recent meeting, including:

• One-year terms: Joe Ferguson to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission and Jerry Ensor, Roy Haddon, Tom Helmer, Todd Shedron and David Nelson to the 911 Advisory Committee.

• Two-year terms: Page Cotton to the CVB, Ken Eitel to West Central Economic Development and Bryan Allen to West Central Solid Waste District.

• Three-year terms: Carolyn Shotwell and Chuck McElwee to the Animal Care and Control Advisory Board.

• Four-year terms: Barry Barger to Floyd Township Fire District; James Maxwell and Dr. Troy Quiz, Board of Health; Dr. Keith Ernst, Janice Fry and Matt Headley, Putnam County Hospital Board; Ron Sutherlin, Board of Zoning Appeals; Randy Bee and Kevin Scobee, Putnam County Planning Commission; Larry Windmiller, Roachdale Fire District; Kimber Plemons, Roachdale Library Board; and Wayne Lewis, Greencastle Planning Commission.

The commissioners kept their own board appointments the same in 2017, including Don Walton to West Central Economic Development and West Central Solid Waste District; Rick Woodall to Operation Life, Board of Health and Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center; and David Berry to County Planning Commission, Redevelopment Commission, E-911 and Emergency Management Agency.

In other business:

• Putnam County Extension Director Mark Evans requested approval on a plan to make Extension Ag Educator Jenna Nees full time through a partnership with the Soil and Water Conservation District.

Evans said that Nees has already been carrying out some of the educational duties of the SWCD. There is additional need for help at the SWCD anyway, due to some vacancies, including the recent leave of absence and ultimate resignation of former SWCD Director Sue Crafton for health reasons.

Interim SWCD Director Shane Johnson was also in attendance supporting the measure.

The idea was initially proposed by SWCD board member Kerry Williams but needed to come before the commissioners for ultimate approval.

With the money already appropriated, the commissioners found no fault with the plan, granting approval.

“It should solve some issues that we were having,” Evans said.

• Commissioners approved the lease of four new Ford Explorers for the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department.

“It’s well within the budgeted amount from the council,” Chief Deputy Phil Parker explained, adding that the need has increased since budget hearings. “Since that time, we’ve totaled two vehicles.”

The financing is coming through First National Bank and the purchase will not be made until after the first of the year, putting it on the 2017 budget.

Parker said the hope is to have the vehicles on the road by late January or early February.

• Scott Baldwin of Envoy Construction, Indianapolis, made a brief presentation to the commissioners offering possible future services.

Baldwin said he understood the county may be looking at building a courthouse annex in the next few years and he hopes Envoy will be considered when the time comes.

“We understand how county government works and how to deliver a construction project in a public environment,” Baldwin said.

• County Highway Supervisor Mike Ricketts presented 2017 bids to the commissioners.

He also said his crews have been working on gravel roads in recent weeks.

“We’re trying to get them presentable,” Ricketts said.