Noble County commissioners elect Gary Leatherman president; approve most appointments but register dissent on planning director

The Noble County Board of Commissioners elected Gary Leatherman president for 2026 and approved a broad slate of department and board appointments during its Jan. 12 meeting.

The board opened 2026 business and Speaker 3 asked for nominations. "We have a motion by Anita and a second by Gary Zimmerman to appoint Gary Leatherman as the president," the clerk announced; the vote was taken and Leatherman assumed the chair.

The clerk then read a roster of appointees for department and committee roles, naming Mike Cloughton for building inspector; Jade Cheshire as 9‑1‑1 director; Glenn Ryan as maintenance director; Rob Hall as highway superintendent; Zach Smith as highway engineer; Jackie Naples as county coordinator; Dennis Grant as county attorney; and others assigned to multiple advisory boards.

Most appointments were approved in a single motion. One commissioner, identified in the transcript as Speaker 7, said they would not support the planning commission director appointment and referred to a string of citizen complaints: "I've got over 3 pages of complaints regarding the plan commission," the commissioner said. The board split that line item so that all appointees were confirmed except the planning director position, where a single dissent was recorded for Theresa Tackett.

The board also approved routine administrative items including claims and minor handbook edits. The county administrator said the revised employee handbook would be distributed to staff following the vote.

What happens next: the board will set interview dates for one outstanding vacancy (veterans service officer) and confirmed representatives to external boards and commissions for 2026.