Banner Graphic, Volume 18, Number 31, Greencastle, Putnam County, 13 October 1987 — Page 1

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i It's so far, so good with the new stopsign for northbound traffic at the Indiana-Franklin street intersection in Greencastle. Long one of the most-confusing intersections in town with traffic previously stopping at two sides,

Cutting the cord

Current, IBM saddened by end of Greencastle era

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor Encased in glass on the wall of Ken Current’s office above the Greencastle square are a pair of gold-plated scissors. A sharp reminder of the IBM executive’s arrival in Greencastle more than a decade ago. An accompanying plaque explains the memento. It rea is: “In commemoration of the opening of the IBM Distribution Center in Greencastle. Announcement, Aug. 2,1976. First parts shipped, March 28,1977.’’ THE 16-INCH SHEARS were used to cut the ribbon on that new era of IBM-Greencastle relations more than 10 years ago. They will not, however, come out of retirement to sever Current’s ties to the Greencastle community. Current, on assignment in Greencastle as IBM executive-in-residence since last November’s closing announcement, has made public his retirement following an agreement between IBM and Charming Shoppes Inc. to transfer title of the local IBM facility. As IBM general manager and Greencastle site manager from 1976-1982, Current witnessed a rebirth in the IBM existence here. And now, sadly, he has seen the end. “I BROUGHT IN THE NEW mission, and I was here to close it off,” he said, reflecting on the changeover from production of input and output paper supplies (such as business forms) that comprised the IBM-Greencastle role from 19541976, to the materials distribution center it became the last 10 years. “It’s been a difficult task emotionally for me,” the 31-year IBM employee told the BannerGraphic. “A good share of my career energies went into building this place up to what it was. ” Current conceded that what happened on Nov. 11,1986 -- a day that will live in infamy for Greencastle IBM’ers - could easily have happened in 1976. The company was seeing a downturn in orders for its paper products. Workloads decreased, and IBM was left with two choices: Alter its direction to accommodate the market, or scale down its operation and reduce employment. THE OPERATIVE IBM WORD became “remissioning.” It took some 700 employees who had been basically printers and press operators, retrained them “into a multitude of skills,” and turned a 220,000-square-foot facility into a 350,000-square-foot distribution center. "The remission was a blessing of sorts,” Current said, noting that many of those retrained workers emerged with broader capabilities and were able to be successfully transferred within the present IBM framework following last November’s announcement. It was shortly after IBM told the world it was ending its Greencastle existence, that Current

Inching our way back up

Clear and not so cold overnight with low in the mid 30s. Mostly sunny and warmer on Wednesday with high in the upper 60s. Winds light and southerly during the period. Indiana Extended Forecast Thursday through Saturday: A chance of showers Thursday and Saturday, but fair on Friday. Highs each day in the 60s to near 70. Lows in the 40s Thursday and Saturday, and from 35 to 40 on Friday.

Banner Graphic Greencastle, Putnam County, Tuesday, October 13, 1987 Vo. 18 No. 31 25 Cents MB

Index Abby A 4 Calendar A 4 Classifieds AIO.AII Comics A 6 Crossword AU Heloise A 4 Horoscope All Obituaries Al 2 People A 6 Sports A7,A8,A9,A10 TV A 5 Theaters Al 2

it is now a three-way stop, with eastbound Franklin Street traffic having the right-of-way. The additional sign was placed during the downtown sidewalk renovation project and had been recommended as part of the

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KEN CURRENT Announces IBM retirement

was tapped as the company’s most logical choice to relocate here. “IBM needed me here,” Current said, noting the company didn’t force the decision to return on him. “I elected to do it,” he added, “because I felt such a deep concern for this community.” THE YEAR-LONG RELOCATION came at great personal sacrifice. “Uprooting ourselves from Michigan and living out of a suitcase was a difficult thing, particularly for my wife (Charlene),” Current said. “But it helped that I was very involved in the community when I was here. I knew almost all the city leaders and they had trust and confidence in me, and it was rewarding to me that I was accepted like I was.” Current saw his mission here as working for the city, yet representing IBM Corp. “I tried to demonstrate through what I did, that the city was uppermost in my mind,” he said. “IBM has a lot of people worrying about it; that’s something I didn’t need to be concerned with. “FUNDAMENTALLY, I WAS sent here to help the city find a new tenant or tenants for the IBM facility and land. More generally, I was here to do whatever I could to help the city to recover and to be available to make sure the communications between IBM and the city were

$2.5 million approved for State Farm projects

Appropriations totaling $2.5 million for improvement projects at the Indiana State Farm have been approved by the State Budget Committee, according to Sen. Edward Pease (R-Brazil), allowing construction work to begin at the Putnamville facility. PEASE EXPLAINED that the funds will be used to construct a new building that will receive, ship and store the millions of dollars worth of supplies used to onerate and maintain the facility. The present struc-

city's urban design plan. City Police have not reported any accidents at the intersection since the stopsign was placed. (BannerGraphic photo by Gary Goodman).

always open and helpful. “Specifically,” Current continued, “I worked directly with the mayor, the Greencastle Development Center and the Citizens Advisory Commission on Economic Development, where I was a full-time consultant. I entertained prospective clients, showed them through IBM buildings, assisted in negotiation meetings, briefed the City Council and anything else that needed to be done. I was not constrained by IBM or the city. This made by job more meaningful.” Current’s input was probably never more meaningful than in the two weeks prior to IBM’s decision to cease operations in Greencastle.

“Sad as it is, IBM is no longer a business here. We’ve sold our building, and it’s time I moved on.”

He was serving as corporate resident manager, one of nine such IBM executives in the country, based in Southfield, Mich., and reporting directly to IBM Chairman of the Board John Akers on personnel relations matters in Michigan, Kentucky and Ohio. “AT THAT POINT IN TIME, the corporation was asking every division to propose ways and means to reduce costs,” Current recalled, explaining how he was in on the month-long corporate decision-making effort. The National Service Division envisioned that by consolidation, duplication of some operations could be eliminated. Other divisions, meanwhile, were short of workload. From those observations, Current said, came the idea to consolidate distribution efforts and eliminate the need for some employees in that area. Those freed-up workers could then be transferred within IBM operations to areas in need of additional strength. “We weren’t just looking at Greencastle,” Current explained. “We looked at merging Mechanicsburg with Greencastle and Greencastle with Mechanicsburg. ” Mechanicsburg, however, stayed and Greencastle went “because of the dynamics of the mission at Mechanicsburg,” he said, noting that the Pennsylvania facility, to which much of the Greencastle workforce was transferred, showed “a stronger capability and more sophisticated business system.” The decision to close the Greencastle facility Col. 1, back page, this section

ture lacks space and is inadequate to properly store such items as frozen foods and produce. A project designed to improve the flow of water to the State Farm from Deer Creek was also funded by the committee. An appropriation of $383,600 was included to dredge the half-mile channel between the upper and lower dams which is becoming increasingly filled with silt. New pumps and piping will also be installed to carry water from the lower Col. 5, back page, this section

Cummins asks county funds

By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic News Editor Cummins Mental Health officials set the stage Monday night for what could be almost a half-million-dollar commitment from Putnam County. Appearing before the Putnam County Council were Ron Riggs, executive director of Cummins Mental Health for Putnam and Hendricks counties, and Keith Williams, coordinator-supervisor for the Putnam County office. Riggs, who served as spokesman, detailed that Cummins Mental Health is planning to construct a new facility in Putnam County which will serve severely disabled clients, particularly children. A FULL RANGE OF therapeutic services will be offered, Riggs noted. He mentioned Cummins hopes to build the new facility in “close proximity” to Putnam County Hospital just south of Greencastle. “Our intent is to have this done by next fall,” Riggs told the County Council. Such a facility will allow Putnam County individuals to be served locally, instead of transported to Hendricks County for therapeutic services as they are now. To build the new facility, Riggs said Cummins Mental Health will be seeking a $1.4 million grant from the state. “WHEN WE DO, we will be asking $475,000 from you,” Riggs told the Council. “The officials in Hendricks County always ask why we never come to you (to provide funding for Cummins; since it serves both counties). So we will be asking for this amount.” Riggs did add that Cummins plans to offer specialized training for foster parents to provide 24-hour care, in connection with the new facility. Such foster parents will undergo 40 hours of “intensive training,” he noted. “We hope to see this happen in Putnam County,” Riggs said of the

Overtime request for jail matron fails

By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic News Editor A question of paying overtime to matron Julie Hoffa arose at Monday night’s County Council meeting as Putnam County Sheriff Gerry Hoffa submitted a $13,000 additional appropriation request. According to information presented by Hoffa, the claim spans a time period from Sept. 1,1985 to Aug. 31 of this year. County Councilman Gene Clodfelter made a motion that the $13,000 request be approved, but no other councilmen-Dick Asbell, Max Nichols, Jack Waldron or Bob Evans-voiced a second. Absent were Dorothy Edwards and Tom Gray. WHEN BOARD President Asbell asked for discussion, Evans questioned Hoffa why he waited so long to turn in the overtime request, which was retroactive to September 1985. Hoffa answered that when the new federal guidelines on overtime went into effect, not many Putnam County officials were aware his wife was building up overtime as jail matron. At first, Hoffa said he was told not to put the overtime down, but later was instructed by two county commissioners to total up the number of hours and make the request in 1987. The sheriff contends he was following a procedure the county commissioners advised him to do to receive payment. “BUT IT’S BEEN two years,” Evans continued, “and I don’t recall anything of this nature coming before us in the past. ” In a way, Hoffa responded, the situation has come before the board. “It comes up every so often when we lose cooks or personnel at the jail,” the sheriff pointed out. “The Council took one of my parttime cooks at the jail when we went to central dispatch,” Hoffa noted. That meant the matron had to work extra hours to make up for losing the

new facility. “It’s kind of unusual for a county this size to send their chronically mentally ill over to Hendricks County for these services.” County Councilman Jack Waldron told Riggs he understood the Putnam County Hospital is not being fully utilized and questioned if perhaps and agreement could be worked out with hospital officials. RIGGS SAID HE AND Putnam County Hospital Executive Director John Fajt had discussions about Cummins moving into a currently unused section of the hospital. “In looking at the area we were talking about, there would only have to be minor modifications,” Riggs said of space at the hospital. He added Fajt seemed in favor of the proposal. However, Riggs said the Putnam County Hospital Board determined it would have to charge a lease payment based on $18.75 per square foot. “We (Cummins officials) found that to be totally unreasonable,” Riggs responded. PUTNAM COUNTY Hospital Executive Director Fajt said Tuesday morning the space to which Riggs referred to Monday night is now filled. “At the time Cummins was looking at the space, we (hospital officials) were looking at keeping the space oriented to acute care services,” Fajt pointed out. “We were looking for a healthrelated activity to go in there, which Cummins certainly is,” Fajt added. However, the rate hospital officials determined it needed to charge to reimburse itself for use of the space was felt to be too cost prohibitive by Cummins officials. IN THE MEANTIME, Fajt added, the space (located on the hospital fourth floor) is now being used as an office area for Dr. Charles Nowacek, the new orthopedic specialist who Col. 2, back page, this section

part-time cook, according to Hoffa. “But it was never brought before the full Council,” Evans told Hoffa. “NO,” HOFFA AGREED. Again,the sheriff stressed he never brought the overtime request before the board, until he was instructed to do so by two county commissioners. “Didn’t we fund you money for part-time help in 1985 and 1986?” Councilman Nichols asked Hoffa. “Yes,” the sheriff answered, “but we used all of that.” Hoffa then related there is more work for the matron to do at the jail than just cook inmates’ meals. She is also required by law to take care of all females prisoners and juvenile boys under the age of 14. In addition, there are many times when she is called out at night because a female is brought in to be lodged at the jail. She also takes care of the sheriff department’s books, Hoffa said. “I THINK WE ALL work extra jobs and don’t get paid for it,” Nichols responded. “I’m sure there are a lot of people that do work beyond their normal powers and duties, but that is just part of the job.” Still, Hoffa said the federal government came out with guidelines on overtime and neither the sheriff or Council have any control over the situation. And those federal guidelines say the matron is due overtime, according to Hoffa. Hoffa indicated he does not abuse the overtime standards. For example, his scheduling methods for jail officers keeps them from accumulating overtime. “Do the jail officers get ‘comp’ time?” Asbell asked, referring to time off for extra hours worked. “NO, BECAUSE THEY are not building up any overtime with the way I have the schedule set up,” Hoffa responded. “This is not something I’m arbitrarily doing,” Hoffa told the CounCol. 2, back page, this section