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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 and appropriates all sums.
The three Wells County Commissioners are:
Randal Plummer (R), Commissioner president -- Commissioner District 1, which the southern third of the county, from Ind. 218 south. Home address: 10880S 600E, Keystone 46759; phone 346-2522 or 346-2577.
Paul Bonham (R), Commissioner vice president -- District 2, which is the central third of the county from Ind. 218 to CR 300N Home address: 5656W State Road 124-90, Huntington; phone 694-6106.
Kevin Woodward (R), --District 3, which is the northern third of the county, from CR 300N north. Home address: 115 N. Tracy St., Markle, Indiana 46770, phone 260-758-2058.
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 non-presidential 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): Larry Brown (R), P.O. Box 21, Ossian, phone 219-622-6046.
District 4 (includes the five Bluffton precincts in Harrison Township): Michael Kracium (D), 1431 Stogdill Road, 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), 5368S 600E, Bluffton, phone 260-824-2595.
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 place.
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. (Schedule changed for holidays, election week situations)
County Auditor Mary Towne is the secretary for both the commissioners and council. Word to them can be sent via the auditor's office in the courthouse.
OTHER ELECTED COUNTY OFFICIALS
Mary Towne (R) County Auditor, Courthouse, Suite 205, Bluffton, phone 824-6470. Home: 9455S 300W, Poneto, 46781; phone (765) 728-2273
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 Harnish (R) County Treasurer, Courthouse, Suite 204, Bluffton, phone 824-6512. Home: 707W 400N, Bluffton, phone (260) 543-2838.
Sandra Fair (R) County Recorder, Courthouse, Suite 203, Bluffton, phone 824-6507. Home: 308 West Washington Street, Bluffton, phone 824-4964.
Connie Prible (R) County Assessor, Courthouse, Suite 202, Bluffton, phone 824-6476. Home: 4361S 200E, Bluffton, phone 824-0135.
Jarrod Hahn (R) County Surveyor, Courthouse, Suite 107, Bluffton, phone 824-6414. Home: 1633E 1000S, Keystone,Indiana, phone (260) 346-2680.
David Hanselman Sr. (R) Wells Circuit Court Judge, Courthouse, Suite 301, Bluffton, phone 824-6485.
Everett Goshorn (R) Wells Superior Court Judge, Courthouse, Suite 303, phone 824-3287.
Michael Lautzenheiser (R) Prosecuting Attorney, Courthouse, Suite 401, phone 824-4102.
Barry Story (R) County Sheriff, 1525 Western Ave. (County Jail building), phone 824-3426. Home; 633W 100S, Bluffton, phone 824-5146.
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 Judges are chosen for 6-year terms. (Judge Hanselman’s current term is through 2006. Judge Goshorn’s current term is through 2008.)
The Auditor, Clerk, Assessor, Prosecutor and Sheriff are elected in even-numbered non-presidential 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 West Washington St., Bluffton, 824-6430.
Larry Owen, County Highway Engineer, 1600 West Washington St., Bluffton, 824-6430.
Jan Ray, County Highway Administrative/bookkeeper, 1600 West Washington St., Bluffton, 824-6430.
Dr. Donald Dian, County Health Officer, Caylor Nickel Square, Bluffton, 824-3500.
Heath Butz, County Sanitarian, Carnegie Annex, 223 West Washington, Bluffton, 824-6489.
Marlene Hoag, County Health Office Administrator, Carnegie Annex, 223 West Washington, Bluffton, 824-6489.
Karen Tuttle, Maplewood County Home Superintendent, County Home Road (Stogdill Road), Bluffton, 824-6434.
Jenny Tsakos, Division of Family & Children (Welfare) Director, 221 West Market St., Bluffton, 824-3530.
Patti Christian, Wells County Jail Commander, 15125 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, Cooperative Extension Service, 1240 South 4-H Road, P.O. Box 607, Bluffton, 824-6412. Fax 824-4891. Home page: www.ces.purdue.edu/wells/
Jerri Lehman, Emergency Management Director, Carnegie Annex, 223 West Washington, Room 101, Bluffton, 824-6433.
Bobbie Studebaker, Courthouse and Carnegie Annex Custodian, Jim Somers, Custodian 2, Courthouse, Suite 101, Bluffton, 824-6401.
Brad Buening , Wells County Area Plan Commission Director and GIS director, Becky Longenberger, APC administrative assistant, Carnegie Annex, 223 West Washington, Suite 221, Bluffton, 824-6407.
Claude McMillan, Veterans Service Officer, Courthouse, Suite 104, Bluffton, 824-6403.
WELLS COUNTY EMS
Wells County EMS Inc. has been created by action of the Wells County government and has contracted with the county to provide Emergency Medical Services in Wells County. Completed and placed in operation in 2000 were the new Wells County EMS headquarters at 140 West Spring Street and the new Southern Wells facility as part of the new Chester Township Fire Station building on County Road 300W just south of the Southern Wells School. Ambulances are being housed at, and services provided from, the Southern Wells 300W facility, the 140 West Spring St., Bluffton, headquarters-central facility, and the Northern Wells facility in the Ossian Fire Station in the Ossian Town Hall building complex on Ind. 1.
Although emergency calls for the EMS are to 911, administrative and other calls can be to (260) 824-0166. Tina Dudgeon EMS director.
WELLS COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
The Wells County Sheriff’s Department provides police and law enforcement services throughout the county in cooperation with municipal departments, Indiana State Police and others. The sheriff also is responsible for operation of the Wells County Jail and for serving of papers for the courts.
The sheriff’s department and jail are located in the modern Wells County Jail building at 1615 Western Avenue on the west end of Bluffton, IN 46714, phone 260-824-3426. Fax 260-824-6424. The jail had a 2004 average of 87.11 prisoners per day but has accommodated more than 100 at times.
The sheriff is Barry Story (home phone 824-5146). The chief deputy sheriff is Tim Schaffer. The jail commander is Patti Christian. The detectives are Det. Lt. Diane Gilliam and Det. Scott Holliday.
Other deputy sheriffs are 90-6 Monte Fisher; 90-7 Ron Campbell 90-8 Kurt Powell; 90-9 Doug Masterson; 90-10 Randy Steele; 90-11 Steve Wendling; 90-12 Jeff McClish; 90-13 Tom Newnum; 90-14 Jim Paxton; 90-15 Ryan Mounsey; 9016 David Johnson.
Other jail officers are George Addington, Griff Bustos, Andy Gallion, Ryan Hartup, Lance Huffman, Russ Mounsey, Gary Neptun, Gary Shadle, John Snover, Tyler Sonnigsen, James Warthman. Jailer/dispatchers: Joe Pettibone, Angela Bower, Curt Hunt; Dispatchers: Gwen Betz, Jennifer Weldy, Diana Hazelet.
Office Staff: Karen Thompson, matron; Elaine Stoppenhagen, receptionist/clerk.
Kitchen Staff: Charlene Pace, kitchen administrator; Judy Pence, Debbie Massey.
Janitor/Maintenance: Mitch Knowles.
Civil Process Server: Larry Farling.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
The Wells County Emergency Management (Civil Defense) office is on the lower level of Wells Carnegie Government Annex, 223 West Washington St., Bluffton. The phone number is 824-6433. Jerri Lehman is the Emergency Preparedness director.