It was reorganization day on Jan. 3 for the Howard County Board of Commissioners. As such, there wasn’t much on the agenda. There was, however, a brief moment of disagreement.
Board president Commissioner Paul Wyman made a motion to maintain the board’s leadership structure as it stood in 2021. This would leave Wyman in the president’s chair, and Commissioner Brad Bray as the board’s vice president. Commissioner Jack Dodd had other ideas.
Following Bray’s second to the motion, the vote resulted in a 2-1 outcome. Dodd was the dissenting vote. After the meeting, Dodd explained that the vote wasn’t made with animosity.
“I just think it is time for a change,” said Dodd. “It’s time to shake things up a bit. I believe the board leadership has been the same for the past 12 years. Brad could have been president for all I care. I think change is good.”
Dodd didn’t express a specific desire to lead the board of commissioners, and he stated clearly that he has no issue with either of his peers on the board.
Dodd is the newest member of the board of commissioners, gaining election in 2020 following an appointment to the seat to replace former commissioner and current Mayor of Kokomo Tyler Moore.
The only other of business of note to take place at the meeting was a disclosure from Howard Haven director Jennifer Brower that the home has accepted a new resident. Howard Haven is one of perhaps 10 county-operated homes for destitute individuals still in operation in Indiana (as of 2019).
A meeting of the Howard County Drainage Board took place following the commissioners meeting. It, too, had no agenda of significance.