Courthouse clock project still in progress

A target date of Dec. 11, 2016 — Indiana’s bicentennial — turned out to be too ambitious for the installation of new clocks on the north and south faces of the Putnam County Courthouse.

That hasn’t stopped organizers from the Heritage Preservation Society (HPS) of Putnam County from continuing to work diligently to get new clocks installed.

The hope is now that the clocks and chimes will be installed by summer.

Phil Gick and Margaret Kenton of HPS gave an update to the Putnam County Commissioners during their Monday morning meeting. Gick said that while $22,500 is needed to complete the project, more than that has been donated or pledged.

Gick told the Banner Graphic on Tuesday that the amount is tentatively $23,170.

Money pledged by the county to the project is $3,150.

The project will replace the 35-year-old clock currently in place on the south gable of the courthouse, while installing an additional clock in place of the unsightly vent that adorns the north gable.

In that way, it will kill two birds with one stone, beautifying the view from the north and replacing a finnicky timepiece that’s been manually managed by Mike Hecko and Lee Stewart for years.

Designed and installed by Smith’s Bell and Clock Service of Camby, the upgraded units will include two self-setting clocks with backlit faces, digital chimes and amps and a lithium battery backup for auto time correction.

Smith’s has worked on at least 40 county courthouses in Indiana, owner J.J. Smith told the commissioners on Monday, adding that he is happy to add Putnam County to the list.

“We’re glad to have you as part of our family,” Smith said.

Gick and Kenton said the hope is to have the clock installed in time for the downtown First Friday celebration in May, which is National Preservation Month.

Having handled the project to this point, HPS will continue to spearhead the effort, with the final, installed product as a gift to the county.

In other business:

• The commissioners approved retaining the services of Jaqueline Clements of Maximus to assist the Putnam County auditor and Putnam County Council with the budget process.

Having worked with the county for several years, Clements was highly recommended by Auditor Lorie Hallett, Councilman Larry Parker and Council Attorney Trudy Selvia, all of whom were in attendance Monday, with all three saying how abreast she stays of changes to state law.

“There’s no way we can keep up with everything that comes down from the state,” Parker said.

The commissioners voted to keep Clements at a rate of $120 per hour. No cap was set on the amount.

• Maximus will also be assisting the Putnam County Highway Department with some budget issues. The rate for work with the highway department is also $120 per hour, not to exceed 20 hours.

• Commissioners approved a plan to lease two more vehicles for the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department at a total cost of $71,250. The money is all from the department’s vehicle replacement budget.

The department has now purchased six vehicles in 2017 in an attempt to replenish its aging fleet. Barring unforeseen circumstances, these should be the final PCSD vehicles purchased this year.

Five of the six new vehicles are Ford Explorers, one of them bought to replace the one T-boned by an Operation Life ambulance in November.

The final vehicle is a Chevrolet Tahoe, purchased in part because the current department K-9 vehicle is also a Tahoe. By buying the same model, the old K-9 equipment can simply be reinstalled in the new unit.