Hemmelgarn leading department

John Hemmelgarn, a Portland native, took over the position on March 2. His long career in the construction business brought Hemmelgarn to the attention of the Jay/Portland Building & Planning Department Inter-Local Joint Board as a well-suited candidate for the role.
Hemmelgarn began working in construction as a teenager. After graduating from Jay County High School in 1989 he attended ITT Technical Institute, obtaining an associate’s degree in architectural drafting. A stint at Purdue followed.
However, the now father of three found his way back to Portland to work as a stonemason.
“I just love the community I guess,” said Hemmelgarn. “I started working and never really looked back, never thought twice. I had stints living elsewhere, but I always realized this was the place to raise a family.”
Even though he was working with stone, Hemmelgarn describes his “first love” as carpentry. So when the opportunity arose to work on his own as a private contractor in 2010, he leapt at it.
The opening for his most recent job change came as Bill Milligan retired in January, just before his death following a long battle with cancer.
Milligan had been Jay/Portland Building and Planning director since the position was created, and 15 applicants got in line to be his successor.
After two months of interviews the board narrowed the decision down to two candidates. They went with Hemmelgarn.
It was his work experience that led to his selection, board president Faron Parr said.
“It was a pretty tough decision,” Parr added. “It got down to two candidates. It went all the way to the end, and it was decided John was the guy for the job … It was his all around experience.”
With a new position comes new responsibility.
Now, instead of swinging a hammer, Hemmelgarn is in charge of maintaining city and county zoning ordinances. Anything that relates to building issues within the county (with the exceptions of Redkey, Bryant and Dunkirk) is within his jurisdiction as he ensures both residential and commercial ordinances are followed along with construction codes.
All of these things lend themselves to his work history.
“I mean I’m sure I’m going to notice something sooner than someone else because of my experience,” said Hemmelgarn.
Even though he’s not working outside as much anymore, Hemmelgarn still stays active with his first love.
He maintains his family home, completing his own carpentry projects. He recently remodeled his kitchen. Cabinets, countertops and everything else; the new director of Jay/Portland Building and Planning took care of it all himself.