By HOLLY GASKILL
Three of five candidates running for the Wells County Council’s three At-Large seats were present for Monday’s forum at the Wells County Chamber of Commerce — Scott Burke (I), incumbent Scott Elzey (R) and Brian Hollingsworth (D).
Incumbent Vicki Andrews (R) was on a pre-planned mission trip, and incumbent Seth Whicker could not return to the county as planned due to Hurricane Milton in the southern U.S.
The candidates were asked six questions by moderator Rick Johnloz, as well as one gathered from the audience, and prepared opening and closing statements. Being candidates for the county’s financial arm, questions focused on the county’s economic future, including EMS and fire services, industrial-scale solar and perspectives on taxes.
The first question of the evening highlighted excess funds recently reported by the Wells County Council. The candidates were asked how they would spend these funds, assuming they weren’t placed in the Rainy Day Fund.
“Jobs, housing and retaining our youth,” Elzey said. He continued by focusing on the importance of quality of place, and his desire to support existing attractions and assets in the Wells County Public Library, parks and Wells County Historical Society. Elzey expressed a similar sentiment in his opening statement, commenting on how his children left the area for better work and quality of life.
Hollingsworth echoed this and emphasized the importance of creating quality jobs. Burke, on the other hand, noted funding issues for EMS and fire departments and said he’d look into incentivizing volunteers for those areas.
Later, they discussed priorities between saving taxpayer money and pursuing additional projects — all candidates recognized it was a balancing act.
“You definitely have to strike a balance,” Burke said. “And I would probably lean towards economic development, because if we increase jobs and the economy and build businesses here, that’s going to make it that much more attractive, and the more you can get from the businesses, the more it would probably help the tax side of it.”
“Well, you do both, right? The answer is easy,” Elzey added. “But Wells County is known statewide for one of the lowest taxes in the state, so we have done an excellent job.”
The candidates were also asked how they would handle industrial-scale solar farms, should the state intervene and allow them. Burke said he would work to establish a local board to oversee projects, and Hollingsworth discussed a similar scrutiny.
“I’m a member of the Chester Township Fire Department,” Hollingsworth said. “And when they brought the power plant out by Southern Wells, they came in and promised the fire departments down there so much stuff. They were going to buy all this equipment, they were going to do all this stuff — and none of it happened. So if we brought that (solar) in, or were forced to bring that in, the one thing I would stress is (that) whatever they put down and promise upfront, we hold them to it.”
Elzey, however, said the question was “strongly hypothetical” and he couldn’t see it happening any time soon.
The group returned to the subject with the audience’s questions and were asked if they supported solar or property tax abatements for solar companies.
Burke and Elzey answered that they were strongly against solar and property tax abatements for solar.
“I mean, these things are tremendously subsidized to begin with,” Burke said. “And protecting property values — in the event that they were approved and they went in, again, you just have to make sure the setbacks and all the restrictions were held to the letter of those.”
In his opening statement, Burke said he decided to run for office because of concerns about industrial-scale solar. He sought 181 signatures to appear on the ballot as an independent.
Hollingsworth felt it was “both,” saying he understood exploring different technologies, but that the county needed to look at all the information. He added that abatements were unnecessary for solar development.
Regarding future economic development, Elzey and Hollingsworth said they wanted to provide opportunities for good-paying jobs in the county. Elzey added that visitors spent $5 million in Wells County in 2022, and he sees an opportunity for growth in continued tourism efforts.
Burke proposed the county develop a “junior economic development council” of local students to “let these kids know we’re willing to invest in them,” he said. He added that the county was one of the “best-positioned counties in the entire state of Indiana for economic development” with the county’s factories and railroads.
The future of EMS funding, however, was a bit more complicated. The county’s EMS services have been supported through an endowment fund established through the sale of the county hospital; as costs have increased and revenue remains the same, the endowment has continually dwindled.
“That’s an excellent question, Rick, and that has stumped the council and commissioners for the last few years,” Elzey said. “There’s going to have to be some changes, because, by virtue of the question, you know that the funds supporting that organization are shrinking … It’s got to be done through funding of some sort, whether it’s local, state or federal, or increasing or trying to get more revenue from the runs. There is some possibility of redesigning the configuration.”
Burke said the county could fundraise or look into grant opportunities, while Hollingsworth wanted to look at training opportunities to increase EMS staff and ensure runs were being billed properly.
In describing their visions for the next four years, Elzey and Burke focused on engaging young people and the community, supporting economic development and creating jobs.
Burke discussed the future in his closing statement as well, referencing three Indiana homesteads he had visited. “They’ve been in the same family for 100 years — and that’s what’s at stake here,” Burke said. “Whether it’s fire protection or development of industrial-scale solar and similar projects, we are going to be faced with making decisions that have a generational impact, impacts on our safety, our economy and our way of life.”
Meanwhile, Hollingsworth wants to create a space for everyone to get involved, regardless of their political or religious beliefs. As the only Democrat running for council, he also described his desire to give voters another option in his opening statement. “I’m about as middle of the road as you’re going to get politically,” he said. “I don’t stray too far left. I don’t stray too far right. I think everything that is done politically should be done with equality in mind so that everyone is represented and treated equally.”
Andrews and Whicker submitted brief written statements to the forum, describing their qualifications and plans as council members. Both noted priorities in fiscal responsibility for the county, as well as improvement to county infrastructure.
holly@news-banner.com
