February 21, 2008

Wells County Officials

COMMISSIONERS & COUNTY COUNCIL
Wells County has two elected boards with governmental responsibilities and authority. The three-member Board of County Commissioners is an executive and legislative board. The seven-member Wells County Council is the fiscal arm of county government.
The three Wells County Commissioners are:
Paul Bonham (R), Commissioner president -- District 2, which is the central third of the county from Ind. 218 to County Road 300N. Home address: 5656W State Rd. 124-90, Huntington; phone 694-6106.
Kevin Woodward (R), Commissioner vice president -- District 3, which is the northern third of the county, from County Road 300N to the north county line. Home address: 115 N. Tracy St., Markle, phone 758-2058.
C. Scott Mossburg (R), Commissioner District 1, which is the southern third of the county, from Ind. 218 to the south county line. Home address: 2428W State Rd. 218, Bluffton; phone 694-6141.
All three of the commissioners are elected countywide but they must reside in the district they represent. They are elected for four-year terms. The District 1 commissioner is elected in even-numbered nonpresidential election years. The District 2 and District 3 commissioners are elected in presidential election years.
The seven Wells County Council members include four who are elected from and by council districts and three who are elected countywide and serve at-large:
District 1 (includes all of Chester, Liberty, Nottingham and Jackson Townships and the Harrison Township precincts outside Bluffton): Jim Oswalt (R), 2781S 200E, Bluffton; phone 824-8597.
District 2 (includes Lancaster and Rockcreek Townships): Karolyna Farling (R), Council vice president, 120 Greenbriar Drive, Bluffton, phone 824-2372.
District 3 (includes Jefferson and Union Townships): Travis L. Holdman (R), 2467W 1000N, Markle, phone 638-4420.
District 4 (includes the five Bluffton precincts in Harrison Township): Michael Kracium (D), 1616 Ellingham Pike, Bluffton, phone 824-3870.
At-Large: Peter Cole (R), Council president, 2559W 300S, Liberty Center (P.O. Box 222), phone 694-6224.
At-Large: LeRoy Cramer (R), 2212 N. Shady Ln., Bluffton, phone 824-1900.
At-Large: James Van Winkle (R), 1203 Echo Lane, phone 824-4160.
All council members are elected for four-year terms. The four district council members are elected in even-numbered non-presidential election years. Only voters in their respective districts vote on the district council members. The three at-large members are elected in presidential election years, and they are elected countywide.
The county commissioners meet in regular session in the Commissioners Room of the Courthouse at 9 a.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month, except for county holidays. They also meet as the Wells County Drainage Board at 8 a.m. on those same days in the same location.
Wells County Council meets in regular session on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Commissioners Room of the Courthouse. (The schedule changes on holidays and for election week situations.)
County Auditor Laura Brubaker is the secretary for both the commissioners and council. Information for either board can be sent via the Auditor's Office in the Courthouse.

OTHER ELECTED COUNTY OFFICIALS
Laura Brubaker (R) County Auditor, Courthouse, Suite 205, Bluffton, phone 824-6470. Home: 2988N 450E, Bluffton, 46714; phone 565-4291.
Beth Davis (R) County Clerk, Courthouse, Suite 302, Bluffton, phone 824-6479. Home: 11831S 500W, Montpelier-90, phone (765) 728-8210. (Also County Election Board chairman and Passport Information office supervisor)
Rinda Vaughn (R) County Treasurer, Courthouse, Suite 204, Bluffton, phone 824-6512. Home: 0707W 400N, Bluffton, phone 543-2838.
Sandra Fair (R) County Recorder, Courthouse, Suite 203, Bluffton, phone 824-6507. Home: 410 West Washington Street, Bluffton, phone 824-4964.
Nilah Aschliman (D) County Assessor, Courthouse, Suite 202, Bluffton, phone 824-6476. Home: 1413 W. Lancaster, Bluffton, phone 824-1391.
Jarrod Hahn (R) County Surveyor, Courthouse, Suite 107, Bluffton, phone 824-6414. Home: 1633E 1000S, Keystone, phone 346-2680.
David Hanselman Sr. (R) Wells Circuit Court Judge, Courthouse, Suite 301, Bluffton, phone 824-6485.
Everett “Bill” Goshorn (R) Wells Superior Court Judge, Courthouse, Suite 303, phone 824-3287.
Michael Lautzenheiser Sr. (R) Prosecuting Attorney, Courthouse, Suite 401, phone 824-4102.
Robert “Bob” Frantz (D) County Sheriff, 1525 Western Ave. (Wells County Jail), phone 824-3426. Home: 118 Beechwood Place, Bluffton, phone 824-1918.
Douglas Cale (R) County Coroner, Carnegie Government Annex, 223 West Washington St., Bluffton. Home: 1318 Manor Drive, Bluffton, phone 824-5650. Phone 824-3852 (Goodwin Memorial Chapel).
These county elected officials are chosen countywide for 4-year terms, except the Circuit Court judge and the Superior Court judge are chosen for 6-year terms. (Judge Hanselman’s current term is through 2012. Judge Goshorn’s current term is through 2008.)
The auditor, clerk, assessor, prosecutor and sheriff are elected in even-numbered nonpresidential election years. The treasurer, recorder, surveyor and coroner are elected in presidential election years.

COUNTY APPOINTED OFFICIALS
Trent Patterson, County Attorney and County Drainage Board Attorney, Gal-Ham Building, Bluffton, phone 824-0100.
Edward Herman, County Highway Supervisor, 1600 W. Washington St., Bluffton, 824-6430.
Larry Owen, County Highway Engineer, 1600 W. Washington St., Bluffton, 824-6430.
Erin Jennings, County Highway Administrative/bookkeeper, 1600 W. Washington St., Bluffton, 824-6430.
Dr. Jeremy Wilson, County Health Officer, Health Department, Carnegie Annex, 223 West Washington St., Bluffton, 824-6489.
Heath Butz, Environmental Health Specialist/Septic; and Jennifer Coleman, Environmental Health Specialist/Foods, Health Department, Carnegie Annex, 223 West Washington St., Bluffton, 824-6489.
Marlene Hoag, Deputy Administrator/Registrar, Health Department, Carnegie Annex, 223 West Washington St., Bluffton, 824-6489.
Karen Tuttle, Maplewood Home Superintendent, County Home Road (Stogdill Road), Bluffton, 824-6434.
Jenny Tsakkos, Department of Child Services (Welfare) Director, 221 West Market St., Bluffton, 824-3530.
Jim Warthman, Wells County Jail Commander, Wells County Jail, 1525 Western Ave., Bluffton, 824-3426.
Rick Myers, Chief Deputy Prosecutor, Child Support IV-D, Courthouse, Suite 401, Bluffton, 824-4102.
Blake Poindexter, Wells County Community Corrections Director, Courthouse, Suite 403, Bluffton, 824-6405.
Gregory Werich, Chief Probation Officer, Courthouse, Suite 404, Bluffton, 824-6496.
Roger Sherer, William Horan, Judi Merkel, Linda Bushee and Susan Girod, Cooperative Extension Service, 1240 South 4-H Road, Bluffton, 824-6412. Fax 824-4891. Home page: www.ces.purdue.edu/wells/
Jerri Lehman, Emergency Management Director, 102 W. Market, Courthouse, Suite 103, Bluffton. Phone: 824-6433. Fax: (260) 824-6420. Web site: http://wellscounty.org/emergency.htm.
Bobbie Studebaker, Courthouse and Carnegie Annex Custodian, Courthouse, Suite 101, Bluffton, 824-6401.
Michael Lautzenheiser Jr., Area Plan Commission Director/GIS Coordinator; Becky Longenberger, Administrative Assistant, Carnegie Annex, 223 West Washington St., Suite 221, Bluffton, 824-6407.
Claude McMillan, Veterans Service Officer, Carnegie Annex, 223 West Washington St., Suite 102, Bluffton, 824-6403.