New position, retirement highlight commissioners’ 2020 appointments

In making their annual personnel appointments for 2020 on Monday, the Putnam County Commissioners had to choose someone for a newly-created position as well as dealing with the retirement of another county appointee.

The executive director of Putnam County Operation Life since December 2014, E.J. Claflin will serve as the director of Putnam County Emergency Management Service. The commissioners approved Claflin by a 3-0 vote Monday morning.

A county-run entity, Putnam County EMS will take over the role currently occupied by non-profit service Operation Life on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020.

Among the changes coming with the transition will be three ambulance crews operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, the Putnam County EMS crews will utilize all three current OL facilities, in Greencastle, Cloverdale and Bainbridge.

More information on the transition from Operation Life to Putnam County EMS will be addressed in an upcoming edition of the Banner Graphic.

The commissioners are also dealing with the impending retirement of one of their appointees. Jerry Williamson, who has served as the county Veterans Affairs officer, will step down at the end of the year.

From two applications received, the commissioners plan to select the new officer during an upcoming meeting.

Other personnel appointments for 2020 include Don Hatfield as Planning Commission director, Tom Gilson as maintenance supervisor, Brian Smith as courthouse head custodian, Michael Phillips as courthouse custodian, Virginia Kersey as part-time custodian, Mike Ricketts as highway supervisor, Robyn Hughes as highway administrative assistant, Brenda Turner as highway secretary, David Wilborn as weights and measures inspector, Robbie Cudnik as GIS director, Tom Helmer as emergency management director, Dave Costin as 911 director and Jim Ensley as county attorney.

All were re-appointed to their positions unanimously.

The commissioners also appointed several people to expiring terms on local boards, including Jayne Bray and Joe Ferguson to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission; David English, Rob Frank, Mike Mahoy, Roy Haddon and Tom Helmer to the 911 board; Rob Mann to the Putnam County Hospital Board; Eric Hayman to the county plan commission; Richard cope to the Walnut Creek Fire District Board; and Randy Bee and Raymond McCloud to the board of zoning appeals.

Kit Newkirk was also re-appointed to the Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau Board. However, fellow member Steve Greeson has said he does not want an additional term. The CVB itself has submitted a name to replace Greeson, but Woodall said the commissioners intend to make sure the person’s political affiliation doesn’t adversely affect the board’s state-mandated partisan balance.

No appointment was made to the Putnam County Airport Authority Board. Perry Wainman currently serves in the expiring spot, but no motion was made to re-appoint him. The commissioners will take out an advertisement to fill the position.

The commissioners will also be appointing two new members to the Putnam County Board of Health, as Steve Thomas and Gary Salsman both want to step aside.

The Health Department staff has people in mind, and Woodall plans to have those for the commissioners’ special meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

The commissioners always meet in the Putnam County Auditor’s Office on the last business day of the year to approve any end-of-year claims.

Ensley will be looking into whether the commissioners still need to make appointments to the Animal Care and Control Board. The board was established when the county and the Humane Society of Putnam County re-established animal control in Putnam County back in 2014.

However, it has not met in quite some time. The commissioners proposed simply not naming anyone, but Ensley would like to review whether the board should still, legally, be meeting and overseeing matters pertaining to the public-private partnership.

The commissioners also questioned why the re-appointments of David Taylor to the Putnam County Public Library Board and Dr. Robert Heavin as county health officer were on their agenda this month. Taylor’s term is apparently not up until June 2020, while Heavin should remain in place until November 2020.

The issue will be revisited.

Finally, the commissioners divvied up their own board appointments for 2020.

Commissioner Don Walton will serve on the West Central Indiana Economic Development District Board.

Commissioner David Berry will be on the West Central Solid Waste, 911 and emergency management boards.

Woodall will serve on the Board of Health, Greencastle-Putnam County Economic Development, Planning Commission and will remain on the Operation Life Board.

While OL will cease to exist on Jan. 1, the board will remain through 2020 to attend to any loose ends and ongoing business.