By Lilli Dwyer
InkFree News

Editor’s Note: With the start of early voting for the May 7 primary election set to begin on Tuesday, April 9, InkFree is beginning a series of previews for contested races in Kosciusko County.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — This preview features the Republican race for Kosciusko County commissioner, northern district. The candidates are Marcia Baumgartner, Milford; Sue Ann Mitchell, North Webster; and Nathan Scherer, Syracuse.

Marcia Baumgartner

Baumgartner served as Van Buren Township Trustee for seven years and as a Kosciusko County Deputy Assessor for 10 years. She is a staff member of the Milford Public Library and an associate member of the Agnes Pruyn Chapman Kosciusko County chapter of National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Kosciusko County Historical Society, and Kosciusko County Republican Women.

Sue Ann Mitchell

Mitchell started in county government in 1976, holding positions including Tippecanoe Township Clerk/Deputy Assessor, Tippecanoe Township Assessor, Kosciusko County Assessor and Treasurer. Most recently, she has served on the Kosciusko County council-at-large for the past eight years. She also spent eight years as a County Auditor, serving as secretary to the county commissioners.

Nathan Scherer

Scherer is the current President of the Syracuse Town Council and member of the Noble County Economic Development Corporation board, representing the town of Cromwell. A Syracuse native, he started a small business in 2004 and sold it to Patrick Industries in 2020, now working as director of innovation for Patrick.

Questionnaire

All candidates were asked identical questions. They were afforded up to 300 words per answer. Here are there responses:

1. How involved should a county commissioner be in county activities?

Baumgartner — “I would say it depends on the activity. I know the commissioners do not oversee certain aspects of the county government, so it might be wiser to sit back and let those people take over that specific facet of the government and other areas, like in the roads, the bridges, the Area Plan. Appeals and the trustee assessor appeals, those areas that they govern, commissioners should be very actively involved in. Unless they specifically are asked to get involved by constituents, as far as a reference or an opinion — other than that, constituents should contact those people involved in that area.”

Mitchell — “An effective Commissioner needs to be prepared to engage with the many groups that require and expect interaction with county government. The job is far more than just two meetings a month.

My activities on the Council prove that I am involved and engaged. As a Council member for the last 7 and a half years I have served on various committees as follows: Abatement, Airport, ARPA, Co Health Dept-Indiana First Advisory Board, County Housing Committee, Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiatives, KEDCo Sheriff’s Recovery Program Advisory Board, Non-Profit, Opioid, Revitalization, Strategic Plan, Wage Committee, in addition to serving on the Lakeland Regional Sewer District.

Showing up is not all that is required for most meetings! Being prepared by having done the necessary homework to be a knowledgeable team player and contributor to discussions is critical. Forming bonds and friendships are vital when serious issues arise requiring personal input from the community. The Commissioners are responsible for appointing other individuals to various committees. Commissioners must be willing to monitor — not micromanage — those committees to observe that the best interests of the county are being met.

One of my favorite sayings from Ken Blanchard’s ‘One Minute Manager Series’ is, ‘No one of us is as smart as all of us.’ Working together on these various committees provides great insight into the activities, needs and wants of the county and provides better outcomes by working together for the good of Kosciusko County.”

Scherer — “I think they should be involved enough to enable the county to grow and prosper, to be receptive to the needs of the citizenry, but not so overly involved that they’re inhibiting growth and prosperity.”

2. Given House Bill 1158, going into effect July 1, what is your opinion on all contracts being approved by the county executive or county commissioners?

Baumgartner — “I would agree that all contracts should go through the county commissioners. It’s a three member board, therefore you would have more input than just the county executive, which is one person. That way, if the contract or any of the companies involve a commissioner, then they can abstain and there would be somebody else that could vote on it besides just one person.

I know some of the commissioners have companies that actually do bid on jobs within the county, and so they should abstain from those votes, but there would be two other members on the board that could vote whether the company had the correct bid or the lowest bid for that contract.

I would say they should keep it at the county commissioner level instead of appointing somebody else, like an executive of the county, where it would be only one person in charge.”

Mitchell — “Being active in the legislative process through the Indiana Association of Indiana Counties and the Indiana County Councils Association, I watched this bill make its way through the House and Senate with eye-opening testimony. When a bill like this passes the legislature there has been a problem in a county causing the need.

Kosciusko County is blessed with elected officials who are responsible and do their research and verification, taking the contracts that provide services to their departments seriously. The new process will allow the office holder with statutory authority to sign the contract if there is a budget appropriation approving the expenditure along with providing the County Auditor with a copy to present to the Commissioners.

Requiring the contract to be passed through the Commissioners should ensure that the best interests of the county are being served and protected. The best safeguard added is the county attorney’s responsibility to review contracts in a timely manner based on the Commissioners reserving the right, by ordinance, to require indemnification provisions, dispute resolutions, termination language and notification requirements.

If there are issues with the contract, the Commissioners are required to put in writing the exceptions they take to the contract. The contract may be resubmitted to the Commissioners with appropriate changes. This will help make contracts consistent in protecting the county because in the end, all liability rests with the Commissioners. The safeguard that requires Commissioners and County Attorney to act within 20 days with failure to act indicating approval, should move the contract along in a timely fashion. Involving the County Auditor as the ‘gatekeeper’ to coordinate the process and upload the signed contract to Gateway, the Department of Local Government Finance public portal online will complete the process ensuring the contract has been seen and approved by all parties.

Scherer — “I don’t know the context. … I’m all in favor of adequate oversight and the flexibility that is required to make the best decisions you can, but without knowing details and researching it, I can’t really comment.”

3. What challenges do you feel a county commissioner is facing in the next four years?

Baumgartner — “I would say it’s always budgetary. I think the biggest issue is to stay within one’s means and yet still try to keep up on equipment, keep up on challenges and grant money and all of the changes that come with increased population — and still try to keep within the budget. That goes for speaking with roads, with the Sheriff’s Department, all the challenges that come with an increased population into the area. We try to meet those needs of the population and stay within the budget.”

Mitchell — “The US 30 ProPEL Project will have a significant impact on Kosciusko County. I believe the county has provided great input for the final design. The end result must address the safety of those traveling in and through our county and further enhance county economic development. This decision is not the Commissioner’s, but Kosciusko County will certainly be impacted.

Establishing a solid annual building maintenance/improvement plan floor by floor, room by room is critical to keeping the Old Courthouse and Justice Building well-kept and in good repair so those buildings can continue to serve the community by spreading the costs out over each year without waste of tax dollars. As Commissioner, I will continue, as I have as a Council member, to have a presence in the county buildings to observe and interact with the various offices.

The current jail was opened in 1982 and added onto in 2001 when I was the Auditor. Sheriff Jim Smith is working to reduce the jail population through various programs. Someday another jail expansion will be required. I am a thinker and planner. I want the county to be prepared.

Commissioners are responsible for the County Highway. A legislative study committee is expected to make presentations before the 2025 legislative session. Commissioners will need to work with the legislature to stabilize road funding. Steve Moriarity and crew spends funds wisely while fluctuation of state funding and the rising prices for fuel and paving materials reduce the purchase power. A second legislative study committee reviewing all tax processes may mean a revamp of the Indiana Tax System. Having been involved with legislative matters in each position I have held, I will continue to engage and take an active role in the legislative process.

As Commissioner, I would look ahead with a vision making decisions logical, practical, and necessary not at the sacrifice of taxpayers. Working together and communicating with all government units to help advance every community in the county would be my guiding light.”

Scherer — “Some of the major challenges are the speed of change that we’re seeing globally, in a number of different fashions, especially with artificial intelligence. There’s threats that artificial intelligence poses, but there’s also tremendous value that artificial can provide. I think it’s very critical that the next commissioner has a good working background with artificial intelligence and the ways it can be used, and also the ways that it can be a threat.

I feel my background uniquely qualifies me to do that. I’ve spent the last three years as a director of innovation for Patrick Industries, focused specifically on the ways we can improve the systems of our company and the operations. Largely, that revolves around AI products and the use of artificial intelligence in our plants, to be more efficient and enable our workers to be more productive and knowledgeable. I think a lot of those technologies can be directly applied to municipalities, local government, and government in general.”