County Commissioners will meet Monday afternoon
The Wells County Commissioners will meet at 5 p.m. Monday, July 10, in Room 105, the multi-purpose room on the lower level of the Wells Carnegie Government Annex, 223 W. Washington St.
Topics on the agenda include:
• Appointments with Wells County Sheriff Scott Holliday, Wells County Highway Superintendent Shawn Bonar, and Wells County Engineer Nate Rumschlag. Bonar will discuss the highway donation fund ordinance.
• Construction contracts for Bridge 170 and Bridge 85.
• Approval of the 2023 gravel road conversion petition and right of way status.
• Community Corrections remote work update, brought to the commissioners by Blake Poindexter.
• Proposed Bluffton 911 2024 budget, brought to the commissioners by Mike Miller.
• Meyer Building rezoning request in Craigville, brought to the commissioners by Mike Lautzenheiser Jr.
• Design Wells County welcome signs, Wells County flag, and the return of the Civil War cannon to the Courthouse Plaza, brought to the commissioners by Brandon Harnish.
• Ossian Spec II agreement.
• Emergency closing resolution.
• Monthly reports and miscellaneous business.
• Right-of-way or utility agreements.
• Wells County Historical Society funding request.
• Statement of salaries and wages for 2024.
• Discussion of the 2024 commissioners’ budget.
Friends of the Shelter will meet Monday afternoon
Friends of the Shelter, the organization that provides support for the Bluffton/Wells County Animal Shelter, will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 10, in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 128 E. Market St.
Topics on the agenda include review of Farmers Market event, financials, and upcoming events.
The meeting is open to the public. For more information, call 273-1742.
Regional Sewer District board will meet Monday
The board of the Wells County Regional Sewer District will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 10, in Room 105, the multi-purpose room on the lower level of the Wells Carnegie Government Annex, 223 W. Washington St.
Topics on the agenda include:
• Customer questions.
• Superintendent’s report and board update.
• Engineer’s report on Liberty Center/Murray, Craigville, Kingsland, and Tocsin projects.
• Attorney’s report.
• Discussion and recommendation concerning full time status and pay for superintendent.
Ossian Town Council will meet Monday evening
The Ossian Town Council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, July 10, at Collier’s, 215 N. Jefferson St. in Ossian.
Topics on the agenda include:
• Reports from the Fire Department, Parks Board, and the Police Commission.
• Community Crossings Matching Grant award, brought to the board by Jim Breckler of Engineering Resources.
• Woodcreek residents discussion of road project with Bteckler.
• Transfer of D.A.R.E. van.
• Review of salary ordinance.
• Backhoe/skid loader leases discussion.
• Review quotes for parking lot.
• Final approval for Ossian Park One subdivision, brought to the council by Mike Lautzenheiser.
• Wells County Trails board matter, brought to the council by Lautzenheiser.
• Consideration of pay application for the Woodcreek project.
• Discussion of garbage pickup renewal.
• Review of tax abatement compliance forms for Pena’s, Perma Column, and Trusted.
• Consideration of quotes for police vehicle.
• Review of local government resources contract.
• Request for a fence at 215 Ironwood.
Wells County SWCD board will meet Tuesday morning
The board of the Wells County Soil and Water Conservation District will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 11, in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Service Center at 117 W. Harvest Road in Bluffton.
Agenda items include grant updates and Joint Field Day. The agenda is posted at the meeting location, and the meeting is open to the public.
For more information, contact the Wells County SWCD by email at lynne.huffman@in.nacdnet.net or by phone at 260-824-1930, ext. 3.
Bluffton Board of Works to meet Tuesday afternoon
The Bluffton Board of Public Works and Safety will meet at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, in the Council Chambers on the first floor of City Hall, 128 E. Market St.
• Nuisance dog discussion.
• Opening of server bids.
• Personnel matters, brought to the board by Fire Chief Don Craig, Wastewater Collection Superintendent Derrick Deininger, Police Chief Kyle Randall, and Wastewater Plant Superintendent Tony Fey.
• A request to purchase, brought to the board by Randall.
• Consideration of a utility dispute.
Norwell school board will meet Tuesday afternoon
The board of the Northern Wells Community Schools will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, at the school district’s central office, 312 N. Jefferson St. in Ossian.
Topics on the agenda include:
• Public comment on agenda items.
• Consideration to accept claims as presented.
• Superintendent’s report
• Norwell High School Japan trip presentation.
• Personnel matters — Three retirements, five resignations, and several hirings or appointments.
• Acceptance of two donations.
• Consideration of a trip request.
• A request to declare two items to be of no value.
• Teacher appreciation grant policy review and renewal.
• Consideration to approve 2023-24 effective teacher and guidance counselor stipend.
• Consideration to approve 2023-24 administrative benefits manual.
• Consideration to approve 2023-24 elementary student and Bear Care/Bobcat Care handbooks.
• Consideration to approve 2023-24 middle and high school student handbooks.
• Ossian elementary principal recommendation.
• Next regular board meeting July 25, school board work session/retreat July 28, 2023-24 all student registration at NHS July 31, new teacher orientation at central office Aug. 1, ISBA presidents’ virtual roundtable forums Aug. 2, all staff Opening Day breakfast and program Aug. 7, and ISBA/IAPSS collective bargaining seminar Aug. 18.
Prior to the regular school board meeting, the board will meet in executive session starting at 4:30 p.m. During the executive session, which will be closed to the public, the board will discuss collective bargaining.
Wells County Public Library board will meet Tuesday
The board of the Wells County Public Library will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, in the meeting room of the main library, 200 W. Washington St.
Topics on the agenda include:
• Librarian’s and treasurer’s reports.
• Review of financial matters.
• Staff report on collection distribution.
• Committee reports — Building, budget, policy and by-laws, public awareness/outreach, nominating, and director evaluation.
• Unfinished business, including Street Fair request and library display policy.
• Personnel business.
• New business.
• Other items for consideration — director updates.
Wells County Council will meet Tuesday evening
The Wells County Council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, in Room 105, the multi-purpose room on the lower level of the Wells Carnegie Government Annex, 223 W. Washington St.
Topics on the agenda include:
• Transfers within the General Fund – Coroner, veteran’s, and Superior Court.
• Additional appropriations within the General Fund – Clerk, auditor, treasurer, sheriff, assessor, Area Plan Commission, custodian, Superior Court, and Community Corrections. Also, Convention, Visitor and Tourism and the Wells County Court Appointed Special Advocate grant.
• Appointment with Wells County Sheriff Scott Holliday (commissary).
• Election panel demonstration – Steve Shamo, Beth Davis
• Proposed Bluffton 911 2024 budget – Mike Miller
• Repeal of Ordinance 85-2.
• Regional quarterly loan balance report.
• LIT template.
Drainage Board will not meet Monday afternoon
The Wells County Drainage Board will not meet Monday afternoon due to a lack of items on the agenda.
The board is scheduled to meet at 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 24, in Room 105, the multi-purpose room on the lower level of the Wells Carnegie Government Annex, 223 W. Washington St.
