Putnam County wins statewide award for comprehensive plan

Honored for the recent process by which the county comprehensive plan was updated, Putnam County officials receive a 2024 Local Government Corporation Award from Association of Indiana Counties Board President Nancy Marsh (left), who also serves as Hendricks County Auditor. Those receiving the award on behalf of the county include (from second left) Building and Planning Director Lisa Zeiner, commissioners Rick Woodall and David Berry and Surveyor Greg Williams.

Courtesy AIC

The Association of Indiana Counties (AIC) recently awarded Putnam County a 2024 Local Government Corporation Award for its comprehensive plan.

Putnam County has embarked on a transformative journey to revitalize its zoning and comprehensive planning processes. This initiative addresses longstanding challenges and aims to foster cohesive growth across the county and its towns.

The county initiated presentations with the municipalities of Bainbridge, Roachdale, Russellville, Cloverdale, Fillmore and Greencastle, focusing on building bridges and creating a unified approach to planning. The goal was to develop a comprehensive plan and unified development ordinance (UDO) that would provide a cohesive framework for the entire county, with tailored plans for each town.

The result is not only a comprehensive plan that was updated for the first time in more than a decade, but a UDO that upgrades standards that had been unchanged since the county first adopted zoning in the early 1990s.

The overarching vision for Putnam County is to celebrate its historic small towns, agricultural heritage and natural beauty while providing diverse housing options, employment opportunities and recreational destinations. Investments in transportation networks, utility systems and thoughtful planning for growth are essential to supporting both current and future residents.

Counties that win this prestigious award must demonstrate that the project meets the following criteria:

• Cooperation between one or more municipalities and county.

• Shows innovation.

• Positive impact on the community and the participating governmental units.

• Potential for the activity to serve as a model for other local governments.

The award was announced Wednesday, Sept. 25, during the AIC Annual Conference in Switzerland County. Counties that win this award are chosen by a committee comprised of elected county officials from across the state.

During the conference, the AIC’s Board of Directors also adopted its 2025 legislative platform and held elections for its executive board of directors. The AIC Board sets policies and legislative goals for the Association of Indiana Counties, which represents all 92 Indiana counties.