Brames Receives Statewide Award

Dubois County- The Indiana Association of County Commissioners (IACC) is pleased to announce that the Honorable Elmer Brames, Dubois County Commissioner was selected IACC’s Achievement Award winner as the “2022 South Distinguished County Commissioner of the Year”.

Brames has served his county as County Commissioner since elected in 2014 and has been President of his Board for the same. Prior to serving as a County Commissioner, he worked as a township Assessor after retiring from Industrial (Arts) Technology for 36 years at his local High School where he served on numerous school improvement committees, was president of the Classroom Teachers Association and served on several negotiating and discussion teams. In 2002 he pioneered the Project Lead the Way engineering curriculum, which is still in place today.

During his tenure as Commissioner, he has served on several boards and has worked on various County projects.

Noteworthy County Projects are as follows:

He was instrumental in the creation of a Human Resources department and was part of the group that conducted two employee satisfaction surveys.
He worked on the employee wage study, assisted with updating employee job descriptions, the revision of the employee handbook, and revamping the employee Paid Time Off policy. He says, “The dedicated employees of his County are the people who make county government work. They take pride in their work and their county.”
He worked with his fellow commissioners on a Bicycle and Pedestrian Trails Master Plan Project, oversaw the construction of a new railroad overpass, Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program, COVID Memorial project, County Justice Project, a Regional Sewer District for unserved areas of his county, and a Downtown Revitalization project, just to name a few.

Dedicated Board Member for the following:

President of the Solid Waste Management District Board.
Patoka Lake Regional Water and Sewer District
Emergency Management Agency,
E-911Advisory Board
Board of Directors for Dubois Strong, a county-wide, collaborative, public-private partnership that maximizes community resources and assets to foster economic growth.
Indiana Association of County Commissioners’ Executive Board for 2 years
Past President of the Association of Indiana Counties Southwest District

His nomination stated that he “has been a true asset to the citizens of his County and will be greatly missed as he begins his retirement in 2023.”

The achievement award was presented during the IACC’s 2022 Annual Conference, the largest gathering of County Commissioners in the state. The three-day conference included several different workshops, and breakout sessions that were designed specifically for county commissioners and their support staff. Commissioner Brames and others attended several training workshops concerning county related topics focusing on, Collaborative, Forward-Thinking, and Intentional Partnerships, 2023 Legislative Priorities, Governor Holcomb’s Public Health Commission, Indiana LTAP Partnerships, Open Door Laws, Responsibilities of County Commissioners Before, During and After Disasters, Best Practice Guidance Renewable Energy Development, Broadband Infrastructure Investment, Road Funding, and more in their training sessions.

Indiana’s 52nd Lieutenant Governor, Suzanne Crouch welcomed commissioners to the conference. She spoke on current issues related to local government, expanding broadband through Next Level Connections Broadband Grants, Improving Housing needs, revitalizing travel and tourism, supporting Hoosier farmers, and improving mental health and addiction programs in Indiana counties. Crouch has been a long-time partner of the IACC and is committed to improving the lives of all Hoosiers.

Representative Jeff Thompson House Ways and Means Committee Chairman, State Senator Mike Crider Majority Whip, and Representative Greg Steuerwald, Majority House Caucus Chair addressed attendees as well during their Legislative Update.

The Indiana Association of County Commissioners is a nonprofit organization established to provide the best education, leadership support, and advocacy services for our County Commissioners to strengthen their influence throughout Indiana. The objectives of the Association are: to promote cooperation of the county unit with all other units of local government, (cities, towns, township, etc.) and with state and federal agencies; and to promote improvement and efficiency in the delivery of county government services. The various functions of the IACC include serving as liaison among counties, state and federal agencies, lobbying the Indiana General Assembly on behalf of County Commissioners, as well as providing technical assistance and training to county commissioners and support staff.