HANCOCK COUNTY — At the end of his final meeting last week as a member of the Hancock County Commissioners, Brad Armstrong handed over a ring of keys to his successor, Bill Spalding.
“These are a bunch of keys they gave me 12 years ago,” Armstrong joked. “If you can figure out what they go to, that’s your commissioners’ keys.”
Armstrong has served three terms on the board of commissioners, which serves as the executive branch of county government. He is proud, he said, of leaving the county’s finances better than he found them.
“We were in really bad financial shape in 2008, and we’ve gotten good account balances, good funding sources for in the future, and I think that’s all from taking a little better approach, a more businesslike approach to things,” Armstrong said.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Click here to purchase photos from this galleryHe thinks the county is in a good place for the future, with a good balance between its rural, agricultural heritage and new job opportunities.
“I tried throughout my time here to always put the constituents first and do what’s best for them, whether that’s popular or not,” he said.
At his last meeting, on Dec. 29, Armstrong was presented with an award from the Indiana Association of County Commissioners as its 2020 Central District Distinguished County Commissioner of the Year.
Stephanie Yager, executive director of the organization, praised Armstrong for his work on issues including the constructing of Hancock County’s new jail, economic development and improvement of county roads.
“It takes a special individual to dedicate the time, develop a vision, build consensus, promote teamwork, and enjoy political victory for three consecutive terms,” Yager said. “This distinguished county commissioner has focused his efforts on making his county a great place to live and raise a family.”
Armstrong said he chose not to run for a fourth term because he wanted to focus more on running his family business, Armstrong Garage Doors. The unusually rigorous year the commissioners faced due to COVID-19 demonstrated that was the right choice, he said. Though it’s been difficult, the county has generally done a good job of handling the pandemic, he said.
“I do feel like we’ve been able to provide a good level of services and a safe environment,” he said.
One of Hancock County’s longest-serving officeholders is also departing this year. Janice Silvey spent a total of 16 years as the county treasurer. She has worked in the office for 43 years.
Silvey decided to run for the office herself once her children were old enough that she thought she could devote enough time to it. She was elected four times starting in 2000. After leaving office after her first two terms, in 2008, she ran again in 2012 and served two more terms. She ran unopposed every time.
The office has seen several major changes during Silvey’s time, including moving from the Hancock County Courthouse to the county annex, switching computer systems and implementing the ability to take credit cards from people paying their taxes.
Silvey will stay on as an employee of the treasurer’s office for a while, she said; another longtime employee is retiring, and she plans to help new Treasurer Jane Klemme adjust to the position.
“I feel blessed that I’ve been able to serve Hancock County as the treasurer,” Silvey said.
Also departing are two members of the Hancock County Council who opted not to run for re-election, Martha Vail and Debbie Bledsoe. Vail is leaving after one term in office. Bledsoe served two terms on the council.
Vail said her time on the council made her wish that she had begun getting involved in local politics earlier.
“I learned a lot about how the government is run, and I feel very confident about the people who are running the government now,” she said.
Vail said she was proud to have been part of a “group effort” on issues the county council worked on during her tenure, including funding the county’s new jail; extensions of the Pennsy Trail; and the Talitha Koum Women’s Recovery House. She also worked hard to be responsive to constituents, whether by addressing their concerns or connecting them with someone who could.
“My whole objective was to be a voice for the people,” Vail said.