Pulaski County’s two new commissioners wasted little time getting to work. Kenny Becker and Jerry Locke took their seats on the board for the first time Tuesday.
Becker was then elected board president for the year, while Locke was chosen to serve as vice president. They join Bud Krohn Jr., the only holdover from last year.
After the board’s reorganization and the reappointment of several department heads, the commissioners then proceeded to reverse some decisions made by the previous commissioners. Locke proposed that the county scrap its plans to sell some of the farmland it owns near Winamac, and his motion was unanimously approved by the rest of the commissioners. The land sale would have helped raise money for the purchase of another piece of land near Medaryville to develop a rail-served industrial park. However, Krohn pointed out that he’d still like to see the former County Home sold.
The commissioners also voted to reverse the previous commissioners’ decision to merge the county’s Microfilm and IT departments and hire a part-time technician who would work in both areas. Krohn said county officials are still adjusting, following the creation of a full-time IT department. “We just started this last year, and we’re learning,” he said. “But we still need to progress and learn more. I think we need to go a little bit slower.”
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, Krohn moved to prohibit profanity from the commissioners’ meeting room and all county offices. “And if you have to, just leave,” he said. “We don’t need it. Neither does any of the girls.” That measure that was also approved unanimously.
