Adams County creates Human Resources department and appoints Shannon Green as director

Adams County commissioners voted unanimously on May 12 to create an Adams County Human Resources Department and to appoint Shannon Green as its director, effective immediately with the appointment running through Dec. 31, 2027.

County Attorney Forrest Clayton presented a drafted ordinance that outlines the department’s duties, the director position, and the requirement that the department’s budget come before the county council at the next budget session. After a motion to introduce the ordinance, commissioners voted to suspend the usual notice rules and to adopt the ordinance on the same day.

Commissioners also approved the job description for the director role and then moved to appoint Green. A commissioner who supported the appointment said Green had “exceeded all of my expectations” in prior work and called her a “valuable resource to our department heads.” Green responded, “I just wanna say, I appreciate all of y’all’s work and the recognition… I’m thrilled to be able to serve in that role for our community.”

Commissioners discussed implementation details: Clayton said the position could be effective upon adoption but that wage adjustments are typically handled going forward by the wage committee and the council. A county payroll official explained that wage changes are usually applied beginning the next pay period rather than retroactively.

The ordinance transfers county personnel functions that were previously managed in part through other offices into the new department and establishes that the department must operate within the limits of Indiana law and existing statutory responsibilities of other county officers. The board’s recorded actions show the ordinance introduced and adopted under the label “Ordinance 2026-7.”

Next steps include finalizing the director’s acceptance paperwork and coordinating with the wage committee and county council on classification and pay recommendations.