Ricketts moving on from county highway department

After nearly 17 years with the department and the last eight as supervisor, Mike Ricketts is leaving the Putnam County Highway Department.

Ricketts’ departure was announced Monday as the Putnam County Commissioners made their annual personnel appointments that would normally include the highway supervisor position.

“I want to publicly thank the Commissioners past and present and the Council and everybody I got to work with,” Ricketts said. “It was a real eye-opening experience and I learned a lot. Hopefully, I may still be in a position where I can see everybody.

“I just want to say thanks because you guys took a chance on me when you hired me.”

Ricketts’ initial promotion came in an era of rapid change in management at the Putnam County Highway Department, as he was co-supervisor with Clint Maddox when he first started, but three months later found himself in charge alone.

One of Ricketts’ main projects in his time at the helm has been an ongoing effort to develop a seven-year plan for all paved roads in the county to ensure timely repaving.

However, such efforts have at times been stymied by budget shortfalls, rising gravel and oil prices and a global pandemic and the uncertainty of budgets that halted nearly all paving work in 2020.

“I’d like to thank you very, very much for everything you’ve done for the Highway Department over the years,” Commissioner Rick Woodall told Ricketts.

While Ricketts did not share what his next career move will be, he did tell the Commissioners he is willing to help with the transition to a new highway supervisor.

The highway supervisor appointment isn’t the only one in question, as GIS Director Robbie Cudnik was not reappointed on Monday.

Woodall said this appointment would be held until the Commissioners’ final meeting of 2021, set for Thursday, Dec. 30 in the auditor’s office.

All other annual appointments remained the same: Planning and Zoning Director Lisa Zeiner; Maintenance Supervisor Tom Gilson; courthouse custodians Mike “Andy” Mitchell, Mike Phillips and Jenny Kersey (part-time); Veterans Affairs Officer David Heavin; weights and measures, David Wilborn; Emergency Management Director and 911 Director Dave Costin, County Attorney Jim Ensley and EMS Director Kelly Russ.

The Commissioners also reached a consensus on their own service on various boards and Commissions. David Berry will serve on Thrive West Central, West Central Solid Waste and 911. Tom Helmer will serve on West Central Solid Waste, Board of Health, Emergency Management, Workforce Development and Child Protection Services. Woodall will serve on EMS/OL, Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center and County Plan Commission.

Finally, several appointments and reappointments to various boards were made, including Cathy Tipton and Bill Newgent to the Putnam County Airport Authority Board; John Rice to the cemetery board; Lora Monnett and Kit Newkirk to the Convention and Visitors Bureau board; Mike Hildebrand to Floyd Township Fire Protection District; Ruth Ralph and Dr. John Scamahorn to the Putnam County Board of Health; David Bray to the Putnam County Hospital Board; Kevin Scobee to the Board of Zoning Appeals; and Wendell Underwood to the County Plan Commission and the Roachdale Fire Protection District.

Ken Eitel has asked to step away from the Thrive West Central board, so his appointment as well as one to the West Central Solid Waste board remain open.

Additionally, one more open position remains on the Airport Board, as Jim Spore is stepping away from the board for health reasons. Those interested in filling the position may contact the Putnam County auditor’s office to apply by Jan. 12.

In other business the Commissioners:

• Formally approved not changing the Putnam County Commissioners or Putnam County Council districts based on the results of the 2020 Census.

All districts are within the acceptable 10 percent population deviation of one another.

• Approved switching property insurance companies at a savings of $24,000.

John Parmley of Epic Insurance informed the Commissioners that the switch from Chubb to Hanover as provider will also lower deductibles on property insurance.

• Heard from Ricketts that all bids on Bridge 276, which is Saddle Club Road over the CSX Railroad near Three Fat Labs Wedding and Event Center, were over the engineer’s estimate, with the lowest coming in at 23 percent over.

However, the Indiana Department of Transportation has agreed to still do an 80-20 split on paying to replace what one commissioner called “one of the worst bridges in the county” on Monday.

Ricketts said work on the bridge should start in March or April and is scheduled to take 160 days, though he anticipates that may be extended.

• Again discussed future storage of county files currently housed in the gym of the old Jones School/Putnam County Courthouse Annex.

“We definitely have to do something quickly with this storage because we’re definitely going to get a call from the fire department that the roof is on top of it,” Woodall said.

The discussion will now return to whether the county wants to build a storage-only facility or a new annex.

The Commissioners hope to schedule a joint meeting with the Putnam County Council in January.