Commissioner Brian Ellis (from left), Commission President Andy Skidmore and Commissioner Doug Pierson are shown, on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, during a Putnam County Commission meeting.
WINFIELD — Commissioners approved the purchase of two parcels of land to resolve an ongoing dispute with the previous landowner during Tuesday’s Putnam County Commission meeting.
Commissioner Brian Ellis (from left), Commission President Andy Skidmore and Commissioner Doug Pierson are shown, on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, during a Putnam County Commission meeting.
AMANDA LARCH HINCHMAN | For HD Media
Owned by the commission, about 100 acres in Eleanor is leased by the Putnam County Gun Club. A former adjacent landowner alleged that bullets fired from the club’s ranges landed on his property, resulting in potential lead contamination, according to county attorney Larry Frye. There have been ongoing disputes and legal proceedings since 2022, and a settlement and agreement have now been reached to dismiss the pending case.
The county paid $250,000 for the property formerly owned by the neighbor.
“This should resolve any of the disputes between that landowner and the gun club and put this matter to rest,” Frye said.
Commission President Andy Skidmore said the county has a lease with the gun club through 2100.
“Owning the land is not a bad thing going forward, especially as our law enforcement uses that for training, so we definitely have to have this and we can put any disputes for the next 100 years to bed,” Skidmore said.
New county humane officers were appointed during the meeting. Kaitlin Johnson, Nautica Champlin, Victoria Walker and Cheyenne Christian — all current animal shelter employees including the director and assistant director — were given authority as humane officers. Johnson was also appointed county dog warden.
“Otherwise, they’re being employed but do not have any authority,” Frye said.
Though humane officers were appointed in November, there has been some turnover at the shelter, Frye said.
Additionally, payment orders were approved to be issued from the county dog fund, including:
$18,454: Char-Ann Equipment Company in Mineral Wells, Wood County, purchase and installation of a new commercial washer and dryer for the Putnam County Animal Shelter
$11,550: Tri-Waves Electrical Inspections LLC of Barboursville, installation of electrical services at the shelter for a new illuminated sign and for the washer and dryer
The commission also accepted an application for the fiscal year 2026-2027 Records Management and Preservation Board grant, which allows for the county clerk to purchase materials or supplies to help with record retention or destruction of permanent records, according to county manager Tim Hanna. In the application, Hanna requested $5,496.95 to purchase 15 scanners and one micro-cut shredder.
Four board appointments were made during the meeting:
Matthew Young, Putnam County Tourism board
Lee McCoy, Dilapidated and Abandoned Enforcement Agency
Jamie Totten, animal shelter board
Commissioner Doug Pierson, Putnam County Criminal Justice board
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