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The original Newton County was formed by statute on February 7, 1835, and was a roughly square area some 30 miles on a side, encompassing what is now the northern half of the county, the northern half of Jasper County, and a large section to the north. The northern border was cut back to the Kankakee River on February 1, 1836, with all land north of the Kankakee River going to Lake and Porter counties. The county was abolished and combined with Jasper County in 1839. On December 8, 1859, the county was re-created and the borders were redrawn to essentially their current state. Read more...

Careers

Newton County Ambulance Service

Dial 911 for Emergencies

Newton County Ambulance Service providing Emergency Care 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

Important contact information:

Main Phone: 888-663-9866

Billing Address:  9951 N. 100 E., Lake Village, IN  46349-9317

• Billing Department - Paula Knapp, Ext 5102
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Director - Jeremy Kalizae, Ext 5101
• Newton County Ambulance North Ambulance Station, Ext 5100
• Newton County Ambulance South Ambulance Station, Ext 5108

Animal Control

ANIMAL SHELTER

The Newton County Animal Shelter is located in Enos at

3214 East 100 North

Morocco, IN 47963

(219) 285-2187

To view the current animals available for adoption, please visit our Facebook Page.

For proper animal surrender, see the following form: Animal Surrender Policies

ANIMAL CONTROL 

The Newton County Animal Control office is dedicated to enforcing Animal Control Ordinance 87-12, and responding to emergency animal issues, including, but not limited to:

• Dogs creating a nuisance, as defined in Animal Control Ordinance 87-12, Section 101;
• Incidents involving dog bites, severe bodily injury, or significant property damage;
• Extreme unsanitary animal living conditions in Newton County.

 For Goodland's township with a designated Animal Control Ordinance, please contact:

• Goodland Town Hall: (219) 297-4841

For other towns and Newton County areas regarding an animal emergency, contact Newton County dispatch at (219) 474-5661.

Animal Control Tips and Additional Information:

• Animal Control Officers are dispatched in emergencies only;
• Animal Control Officers are not responsible for cats and other small domesticated animals;
• Animal Control does not handle wild animals, as defined in Animal Control Ordinance 87-12, Section 101; 
• For the removal of wildlife and other non-domesticated animals, contact Jeff Plott with Northwest Indiana Wildlife Control at (219) 208-1247

Animal Care Tips and Additional Resources:

• ASPCA Recommendations for General Dog Care
• Kentland Veterinary Clinic
• DeMotte Animal Clinic

Assessor's Office

The Assessor of Newton County is dedicated to ensuring that your property assessments are accurate.

The County Assessor identifies, lists and calculates the assessed value of all Real and Personal property. In general, the County Assessor performs the following duties:

• Provides assessments to the taxpayers.
• Oversees the General Reassessment process.
• Serves as Member/Secretary of the County Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals.
• Insures countywide uniform Property Assessment Equalization.
• Acts as the Inheritance Tax Appraiser and represents the Inheritance Tax Division.
• Discovers and identifies omitted property.
• Calculates the assessed value of all real property in each taxing district.
• Verifies and review the self-reported values of all personal property in each taxing district.
• Calculates the total assessed value of each taxing district.
• Certifies current Assessments to the County Auditor's Office.
• Utilizes recent sales of land (Sales Disclosures) to establish base market rates and values in each neighborhood, adjusts base values for location, nearness to amenities and other influence factors.
• Is responsible for the selection of Assessment Software and Computer Systems.

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Auditor's Office

In order to emphasize the seemingly endless responsibilities, which rest with the County Auditors and their staff, we have prepared a list of duties for each area of our Department. The duties range from simple ministerial tasks such as keeping minutes of the various Board meetings for which we serve as secretary, to the highly technical duties of financial statement preparation and compliance with federal tax guidelines and programs.

The office of County Auditor has evolved dramatically from a bookkeeper and part-time secretary to a financial manager whose responsibilities impact the financial well-being of county government. 

Click here for more information on Staff Duties. 

Building Department

The Newton County Building Department strives to promote public safety by administering and enforcing building and zoning standards. Building Department services include:

• Reviewing and issuing residential and commercial building permits;
• Inspecting new construction and alterations;
• Enforcing zoning codes and ordinances;
• Overseeing Animal Control and the Animal Shelter.

It is the duty of the Building Department to enforce structural, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, sanitation, swimming pool, and sign codes and standards in order to provide minimum criteria for the protection of life, limb, health, environment, public safety and welfare, and for the conservation of energy in the design, construction, and alteration of buildings and structures.

Useful Tips & Additional Information:

• Building Permits are not required for structures 160 square feet or smaller, or for repair/maintenance (roofing, siding, etc.) for which the cost does not exceed $10,000.00; For additional information on residential building permits, see What's Needed for a Residential Building Permit.
• Proper 24-Hour notice is required for scheduling inspections; please call the Building Department with appropriate notice of inspection. 
• Any work not performed by the homeowner must be done by a contractor registered yearly in Newton County. For more information, see our Contractor Registration Form or Plumbers Affidavit Form. Our list of registered contractors is updated monthly and found in our Document Center.
• To find your property information, including Zoning, Parcel Information, and History, search on Newton County GIS Beacon.
• Tips for Zoning and Lot Uses
• For more information, and to apply for a Building Permit, refer to our Updated Building Permit Application, or see What's Needed for a Residential Permit, or What's Needed for a Certificate of Occupancy. 

Permit Bonds are no longer required to be recorded. Permit Bonds are still a county requirement; however, they are to be submitted to the Building Department ONLY.

Zoning

Newton County’s Board of Zoning Appeals, Plan Commission, and Building Department work in conjunction with one-another to manage the development of Newton County’s communities in an effort to protect neighborhoods, direct retail business and industry, and ensure efficient and regulated development within the county.

The Board of Zoning Appeals and Newton County’s Plan Commission meet when a petition is scheduled, on the fourth Tuesday of each month, as needed, at the Newton County Government Center.

See the documents below to learn more about Newton County’s Zoning Ordinances, Policies, and Procedures:

• Revised Comprehensive Plan
• Newton County Zoning Ordinances 94-1
• Parcel Zoning Information
• Subdivision Covenants & Restrictions
• Primary Approval Procedures for Minor Subdivision
• Primary Approval Procedures for Major Subdivision
• Additional Information Available in the Document Center

Clerk's Office

The Clerk's Office is the record-keeper for all county-level court cases: civil, criminal, traffic tickets, estates, guardianships, juveniles. The office issues marriage licenses; processes child support, judgment, and probation payments; issues warrants; and oversees and conducts all elections and campaign finance reporting requirements.

Apply for a Marriage License

Coroner's Office

For 900 years, it has been the function of the coroner to monitor the honesty and integrity of other public officials in the English-speaking world. The modern coroner performs the same function, but in the narrower area of death investigation. The death of any human being is too important to be left merely to the police, the prosecutors, the judges, and the physicians. In Indiana, we elect a public official to supervise the process of determining the cause of death. The Indiana coroner is the heir to the tradition going back nine centuries to the officials who represented the interests of the king. They were called coroners because they represented the crown. 

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Commissioner's Office

As the executive branch, the Board of Commissioners may approve policies that affect all county employees.

As the legislative branch, the Commissioners pass ordinances that primarily affect unincorporated (not within a city or town) areas of the county.

It is the only body in all of county government that can receive bids for projects and services and sign contracts.

What We Do:

• Receive bids for projects and services and sign contracts.
• Authorize all claims on county budgets.
• Decision-making authority over planning and zoning in the county.
• Supervise construction and maintenance of county roads and bridge structures.
• Issue bonds or approve lease-purchase agreements to borrow money for the county.
• Serve as the Drainage Board, which oversees the legal drainage system in the county.
• Operates and maintains all County facilities, including the historic Newton County Courthouse.

Communications Center

Newton County Communications Center

The Newton County 911 Communications Center serves the citizens of Newton County twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week dispatching Police, Fire, & EMS.

Our 911 telecommunicators are well trained and have various certifications in order to meet the standard care for the citizens of Newton County.  We monitor multiple radio frequencies, use a computer-aided dispatch system and answer both emergency and non-emergency telephone calls amongst many other tasks.

If you have an emergency and need immediate assistance, please dial 911.  Allow the 911 operator to ask the questions he or she are trained to ask. This will allow them to obtain the help you need as soon as possible. After calling 911, listen to the 911 operator's instructions and do not hang up the phone until the 911 operator tells you as additional information may be needed.

If you mistakenly reach the 911 center, please do not hang up before the 911 telecommunicator answers the phone. If you are not on the phone when the telecommunicator answers, he or she will call you back to check if there are any problems.

If you are calling the Newton County Sheriff's Office with a non-emergency please understand that you may be placed on hold because that operator may be handling an urgent situation.  A telecommunicator will answer your call as soon as possible.

Mission Statement

To provide a vital link of emergency services between the citizens and first responders of Newton County. This will be accomplished through professional and courteous public safety practices while keeping the safety of all first responders in mind at all times. We will also provide this service in the most cost effective manner possible, recognizing that the citizens of this county are funding this operation.

Dispatched Agencies

Law Enforcement

• Newton County Sheriff's Office
• Newton County Drug Task Force
• Brook Police Department
• Goodland Police Department
• Kentland Police Department
• Morocco Police Department
• Indiana Department of Natural Resource

Fire Departments

• Brook-Iroquois Township Volunteer Fire Department
• Goodland Volunteer Fire Department
• Kentland-Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department
• Lake Township Volunteer Fire Department
• Lincoln Township Volunteer Fire Department
• Morocco Volunteer Fire Department

EMS

• Newton County Ambulance Service

The center also provides notification or call out services for Newton County Animal Control, Newton County Coroner and Newton County Emergency Management Agency.

County Council

What We Do:

• Exclusive power to fix the tax rate for county purposes and for all other purposes where the rate not fixed by law is required to be uniform, and impose the tax levy.
• Exclusive power of making appropriations to be paid out of the county treasury.
• Adoption of the annual budget after receiving estimates submitted by the various county agencies through the county auditor, subject to the modification by the State Board of Tax Commissioners.
• Incurring county indebtedness within the constitutional limitations.
• Appropriation of additional funds arising after the budget is adopted.
• Reappropriation of surplus funds which might be surrendered by one department of county government.
• Fixing of salaries of officers, deputies, assistants and employees whose salaries are payable from any county fund, with certain exceptions as provided by the statutes granting this authority.
• Levying taxes to provide funds for erecting new jails and repairing, remodeling, and enlarging of old jails.

Court's

The Indiana Constitution directs that the State be divided into several circuits by the General Assembly. Of the 92 counties in Indiana, 88 have circuit courts. The remaining four counties are divided into joint circuit courts of two counties each. There are 102 circuit court judges in the State of Indiana.

The Circuit Courts are vested with unlimited trial jurisdiction in all cases, except where exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction is conferred upon other courts. Circuit Courts also have appellate jurisdiction over appeals from city and town courts.

Superior Courts are created by statutes enacted by the General Assembly. Though their jurisdiction may vary from county to county, for the most part they are courts of general jurisdiction.

City and Town Courts may be created by local ordinance. Their jurisdiction is very limited, usually limited to city ordinance violations, infractions and misdemeanors.

Economic Development

Director: Tim Myers

4117 S 240 W
Suite 100
Morocco, IN 47963
888-663-9866 Ext 2601
ncedc@newtoncounty.in.gov

Cell: 219-869-0951

Economic Development Commission:

Board Members: Mike Rowe, Carl Ramsey & Bethany Busboom

Elections and Voting

Welcome to Newton County Elections & Voting. For May Primary Results, please view the items under the News section below or visit IN.gov for additional information.

Local Election Results

Indiana Election Division: View Results on IN.gov

Emergency Management Agency (EMA)

Mission Statement

To establish and maintain a progressive emergency management program that promotes the mitigation of, preparation for, the response to, and the recovery from emergencies and disasters impacting the public, government, and business of the communities within Newton County.

Definition of Emergency Management

Emergency management is the process of coordinating available resources to deal with emergencies effectively, thereby saving lives, avoiding injury, and minimizing economic loss. This protection process involves four phases of emergency management. They are:

Mitigation: Taking specific actions that will reduce the possibility of a disaster occurring or to reduce the loss such as relocating structures out of a flood plain.

Preparation: The process of writing plans, identifying resources, negotiating agreements, training and exercising.

Response: The mobilization of the forces using the resources available to stabilize a situation.

Recovery: The immediate and long-range effort made to assist in returning a situation to near normal conditions again.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Welcome to Newton County Emergency Management Services. For more information on the services provided to the County, please contact our office.

GIS

Welcome to the Newton County GIS Home Page. The information you find here will enhance your map researching capabilities by integrating county offices and department's information under one system. By utilizing our GIS website, you have the capability of viewing and querying a wide variety of data layers. You also have the ability to print street maps of our County, Townships, and Towns.

What is GIS? GIS is an abbreviation for geographic information system, a computer system to create, analyze, report, and map data geographically.

Responsibilities: Newton County GIS has geospatial data available in shapefiles, geodatabase, PDF maps, web maps, and web applications. Part of the department’s responsibility includes maintaining digital maps and creating data layers for Newton County. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any data needs or questions!  

Available Data Layers include Townships, Sections, Parcels, Addresses, Lots, Subdivisions, Aerial Photography, Contours, Address Points, Street Centerlines, Rights of Way, Drains, Tiles, Precincts, Flood Zones, Soils, Zoning, and much more!

Click here to go to the Newton County GIS Beacon website

Health Department

Welcome to the Newton County Health Department. 

Employees and Services Provided:

Gonzalo Florido, MD:  Medical Officer, messages may be left at 219.285.2052

Oversees all Health Department operations

Reception/Vital Records Clerk, 219.285.2052, x. 2205.

Birth and Death Records, Genealogy Searches and Records, Appointment Scheduling

Deana James:  Food Sanitarian/Health Educator, 219.285.2052, x. 2202.

Restaurant Inspections, Food Permits, Health Education Programs

Mike Parrish:  Environmental Specialist, 219.285.2052, x. 2203.

Septic and Well Inspections, Septic and Well Permits, Water and Soil Testing Coordination, Vector-Borne Disease Education, Environmental Health Concerns

Kayla Crews, RN:  Public Health Nurse, 219.285.2052, x. 2201.

Infant/Child Immunizations and Records, Tuberculosis Skin Testing, Public Nursing Assistance, Communicable Disease Investigations and Reporting, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Planning, Office Payroll, Office Grants and Budgets, Office Claims, Administrative Duties

• News
   
  
• Events
   
  
• Useful
  Links
• Services
   
  

News & Notices

• ORV Ordinance 08.05.2024
• Health First Indiana
• Fall Taxes are due November 12th. There are multiple ways to pay. Click here for more information.

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Upcoming Events

• Commissioner Meeting
  Tuesday, December 03 8:30 AM at Newton County Courthouse
• Council Meeting
  Friday, December 13 8:30 AM at Newton County Government Center
• Commissioner Meeting
  Tuesday, December 17 8:30 AM at Newton County Government Center

Useful Links

ORV Ordinance 08.05.2024	Health First Indiana	Tax Sale Parcels
Current Registered Contractors (07/17/2024)	Death Certificate Application	Birth Certificate Application
Pay Property Taxes Online	Notice of Privacy	Community Resource Guide

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Services

24 Hour Veteran's Crisis Line 800.273.8255 Press 1	AFCS Delinquent Personal Property Taxes	Area Police and Sheriff Departments
Buy Code Books	Community Calendar	Contact the County
Contact Your Local DLGF Officials	Department of Correction Offender Search	Dept. of Local Government Finance – Self-Service

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