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Elkhart County commissioners elect leadership, approve 2025 assignments and department heads
Summary
The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners elected Brad Rogers president and Susan Blair vice president for 2025, approved commissioner assignments to boards and committees, and confirmed several department-head appointments in a unanimous vote Jan. 6.
The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners elected Commissioner Brad Rogers president and Commissioner Susan Blair vice president for 2025 and approved commissioner assignments to county boards and committees during its Jan. 6 meeting.
The actions also included a package of commissioner appointments to advisory bodies and the confirmation of department heads and managers for 2025. Commissioners voted unanimously on the slate of assignments and appointments.
The commissioners assigned members to multiple local boards and commissions. Commissioners approved Bob Barnes for the St. Joseph River Basin and the Drainage Board; Rogers for the Planning Commission, Oak Lawn, CCAB and CCPC; Barnes for the EEOC; and Susie Wyrick for Emergency Management and other roles listed during the meeting. The board then confirmed department-head nominations that included Joe Lichtman as buildings and grounds director, Dave Snowden as veterans service officer, Tim Jackson as county highway engineer, Kyle Wagner as manager of transportation, Kurt Hunsberger as human resources director, Todd Burrows as weights and measures director, Jennifer Toby as emergency management director, Jeff Taylor as county administrator, Steve Olson as county attorney, and John Bowers as landfill director. The board said it will name a chief information officer at a later date.
County Attorney Steve Olson presented the conflict-of-interest disclosures (addressed separately by the board) before the appointments vote. A motions package to accept the slate of appointments and board assignments carried on unanimous voice votes.
The commissioners also moved to accept a set of county board appointments listed in the county manual; that motion likewise passed unanimously.
The actions are procedural confirmations that set the county's leadership and departmental responsibilities for the coming year and do not themselves create new policy or budget changes beyond positions and assignments.
The board adjourned after routine business and the appointments.
