Community Corrections

 
 

Assessor

The current County Assessor is Kevin Gardner. Mr. Gardner has a staff of nine,  which includes his chief deputy Deana Chrisman.

In Vigo County, the County Assessor is responsible for maintaining all real and personal property assessments for  the eleven townships that do not have a central office. Those townships are - Fayette, Honey Creek, Linton, Lost Creek, Nevins, Otter Creek, Pierson, Prairie Creek, Prairieton, Riley, and Sugar Creek. The County Assessor does NOT maintain the assessment of Harrison Township which has an office located in the annex building.

Our office has over 117 years of combined experience which allows us to effectively respond to all of your assessment needs.  Our staff is thoroughly trained in all areas of the office, and we attend classes and seminars yearly to maintain a complete understanding of the most current assessing practices.

The County Assessor is also a member of and serves as the Secretary of the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals ( PTABOA ). All appeals for review of assessment for all properties within Vigo County are filed in this Office.
 
To view Vigo County Assessment information click here: Vigo County Beacon Website
 
** Notice of Assessments, Form 11's, will be mailed out on April 29th.  If you do not received one by mid May then you may contact our office to get a copy.  **
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Purdue Extension Service Vigo County

Extension Office Logo

The Cooperative Extension Service is one of the nation's largest providers of scientific research-based information and education. It's a network of colleges, universities, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, serving communities and counties across America. The Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service program areas are:


- Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Health and Human Sciences
- Community Development
- 4-H Youth

Our office is open Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

Parking is available behind our building along Walnut Street (one way heading west) or in front, along Ohio Street (one way heading east).

Pre-Trial Services

Auditor

The Auditor of Vigo County is responsible for keeping all financial records for the County. They process the county payroll and calculate tax rates based on assessed value and budget needs. The auditor processes property tax refunds and county vendor claims.

The Auditor is also responsible for conducting the sale of county property. Per State code the Auditor may sell property that has become in arrears in property tax payments. This is called a tax sale and is usually held twice per year. If you have any questions concerning the tax sale you may call the Auditors office .

The fee for the Vigo County Auditor when using an Affidavit to convey property is ten dollars ($10.00) per parcel.
For any questions the Auditor may be contacted at  ( 812 ) 462-3361 or email.
 
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Clerk of the Vigo Circuit Court

The Clerk of the Vigo Circuit Court, sometimes referred to as the County Clerk, is located on the first floor of the Courthouse.  All business communications should be mailed to the following address:
 
         Vigo County Clerk of the Circuit Court
         33 South 3rd Street
         Courthouse, 1st Floor        
         Terre Haute, IN   47807
 

The Clerk is known as the "Keeper of the Records" and as such the Clerk develops, maintains, and stores all court documentation for Circuit, Superior, and Juvenile Courts. The Clerks responsibilities includes collection and disbursement of court costs, fines, judgments, restitution, and various other fees. The Clerk also collects and disburses child support payments, issues marriage licenses and conducts all elections.

Make a Payment

You can make a payment to the Vigo County Clerk for judgments, restitution, and court fees using the “pay online” button below. Accepted payment types are Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. You cannot pay bonds or child support online. 

To make a payment you must have your cause number and the name on the case. Please verify your amount on public.courts.in.gov or by calling us at 812-462-3215 before making your payment. Overpayment will result in, up to, a $3.00 refund processing fee.

We can only accept payments for County Court cases. All County Court cases begin with 84D... or 84C...

Pay Button

If your case number starts with 84H..., it is a city court case and can be paid here

For information on Vigo County Elections, please click here.

County Commissioners

County governments were originally created as administrative divisions of the states. Each state government in the country has designed, through its constitution and statutes, the authorities and powers that counties may exercise.

The powers of County Government Officials, in the State of Indiana, are divided along the same lines as the Federal and State Governments with three main branches. The Judicial, Fiscal, and Administrative Branch.

Vigo County has three Commissioners who are the administrative arm of County Government. The terms of office for County Commissioners are four (4) years on a staggered basis. The prospective Commissioner must reside in a certain district but elected by a majority vote of the County. Commissioners represent all citizens of Vigo County. The County Commissioners are empowered to set county policy, adopt laws, implement them, and, except for the responsibilities of other elected officials, carry out day-to-day operations of the County.

2023 Vigo County Commissioners:

  • Mike Morris 
  • Chris Switzer
  • Mark Clinkenbeard

Administrative Assistant Tammy Allen 812-231-6200

The County Commissioners are normally in the office Monday thru Friday From 8:00AM to 4:00PM, but as the highest ranking elected official they are technically on duty, and on call, 24 hours a day.

The Commissioners have a standing meeting on Tuesday’s at 9:00 a.m.   If a meeting is cancelled, notice will be provided on the county website.  Public is encouraged to attend.  

The Commissioners office is located at 650 South 1st Street and the entrance is at the West side of the building.  We try to have at least one Commissioner “in office” during 8:00 to 4:00 normal hours of operation.   

Meetings can be scheduled by contacting Tammy Allen at 812-231-6200.

 

The Vigo County Commissioners are proud to support the Vigo County School Corporation on S.A.F.E.

Be SAFE VCSC

Vigo County Coroner

The Vigo County Coroner is Dr. Janie Myers
 
Lab:     812-237-1616
Office:  812-462-3360
 
Duties of the County Coroner

1. IDENTIFICATION of the deceased;
2. Determination of the CAUSE of death; and
3. Determination of the MANNER of death.

IDENTIFICATION may be as easy as having a family member at the scene when you get there or as difficult as having only a few bones to work with and having to utilize one of the many experts available to your coroner.

CAUSE of death is the final factor or event that happened to the deceased. If this had not happened, the individual would still be alive. This may be a cascade of factors or events, one following the other and this will be reflected on the death certificate that your coroner files with the county health department

As an example:

A. asphyxia (inability to breathe), due to
B. chest compression, due to
C. settling of automobile, due to
D. failure of jacking apparatus.

This group of factors is referred to as the mechanism, which lead to the asphyxia, which is the cause of death.

MANNER of death is a descriptive grouping. It is, however, a firmly set, universally accepted acknowledgement of how people die. These possibilities are:

A. homicide;
B. suicide;
C. accident;
D. natural; and
E. undetermined.


for more information, visit the Indiana State Coroners' Training Board website

Harrison Township Assessor

About Us

What We Do

The assessor's office is responsible for accurately and uniformly determining the market-value-in-use of all property using one of the three approaches to value: Cost, Income, and Sales Comparison. The most commonly used approach to value is the Cost Approach, which is determined using cost schedules provided and determined by the State of Indiana. We are also responsible for various duties that include examining and collecting information on the physical characteristics of property, review and verify changes made through permit filings, and review documents used in the transfer of property. Detailed information on what we do can be found in the "Topics of Interest" section to the right of this page.

beaconGIS MAP

Prosecutor

Welcome to the official website of the Vigo County Prosecuting Attorney.  Using this site, you can find out about the various divisions of the Prosecutor's Office and information regarding programs and services provided by each division. 

Criminal Division  812-462-3305               Fax 812-238-1096

Child Support Division  812-462-3308       Fax 812-232-2664

Adult Protective Services 812-462-3286   Fax 812-238-1096

Vigo County Recorder

Diana Smith
Diana Winsted-Smith
Property fraud in Indiana has become more prevalent in recent years. If you are concerned about the rise in property fraud, you may want to take advantage of a system that has long been available to the citizens of Vigo County.
The Vigo County Recorder’s office has partnered with Doxpop, LLC to provide document images and index information to the public via the Internet without using taxpayer funding. As a part of that partnership, Doxpop also provides a Property Watch service that will notify you if any document is recorded that references your name or any parcels you own.
Early notification and follow-up when an unexpected document is filed provides property owners with a powerful tool to ruin the plans of fraudsters. However, fraud is not the only reason to use the property watch service. The most frequent reason for notifications is that a legitimate document has been filed. Knowing quickly when any document is filed pertaining to you or your property can help you avoid unpleasant surprises.
This service costs nothing to use, and free support via phone or email is provided during regular business hours. Signing up typically takes less than 5 minutes, so there is no reason not to take advantage of this powerful tool.
Any person may sign up at Doxpop.com to set a watch on their property and name. Participants are notified via email any time a document is filed that references the watched property or name. If you have concerns about the document that you have been notified of, you may then follow up with the Recorder’s office.
Residents of Vigo County who do not have Internet or email access may register in person at the Recorder’s office. If you have any questions about this service, or require assistance with registration, you may contact your Vigo County Recorder’s office at 812-462-3301, or call Doxpop at 866-369-7671. We are happy to help!
Electronic recording is now available through these vendors:

Sheriff's Office

MESSAGE FROM THE SHERIFF
Greg T. Ewing

Law enforcement is changing and today requires that deputies and detectives have access to information almost instantly. It is our goal to keep pace with technology and use it to better inform the citizen and  provide the Sheriff's office with the latest technology in working tools at the lowest cost. 

The primary departmental goal of the VCSD is to provide and maintain a modern and professional Sheriff's Office; staffed by well trained and qualified personnel; utilizing state-of-the-art technology, procedures and equipment; in providing the services required and deserved by the citizens of Vigo County. 

You want a government that is accountable and fiscally prudent. You want sheriff's department that will respond quickly and have the ability to handle any emergency. I have listened, and want you to know that the Sheriff's Office is responding. As sheriff, I have made it my priority to find the best and most cost-effective ways to enforce the law and ensure that our safety and quality of life remain high.

To ensure that we can continue our success, I will focus on long-term vision, regional partnerships, and the legislative and policy changes that will break down our obstacles and help us to make Vigo County a better place to live.

As you explore this web site, it is my hope that you will find ways for you to become involved in the activities of the Sheriff's Office. Please work with us to search for more innovative and effective ways to promote public safety and to enhance the quality of life for all of us in Vigo County. I hope that you are pleased with the progress we have made and will continue to support your Sheriff's Office in the future.

We thank you for taking the time to visit our new internet data system. Please tell your friends, and drop us some e-mail letting us know what you thought. This is not a simple web site but rather the latest in internet technology allowing us to keep you better informed and providing the department a digital law enforcement working tool. 

Thank you for visiting our site; I hope you'll come back often. 

Sincerely,
Greg T. Ewing
Vigo County Sheriff 

Surveyor

Bruce W. Allen Jr.
The Vigo County Surveyor's Office is charged with the duties of measuring, mapping, recording the geography of Vigo County, and maintaining records of Vigo County's legal boundaries. Primarily, the Surveyor's Office serves as a repository for records of governmental boundaries, subdivisions, government benchmarks, and other information. The Surveyor's Office also oversees all section corner conservation throughout the county, supervises construction, reconstruction, and maintenance of all Vigo County legal regulated drains. The Surveyor's Office's duties to the people of Vigo County are addressed in the Indiana Code, Title 36, Article 2,Chapter 12, Sections 1-15.

The Surveyor's Office provides extensive services to the public including an aggressive Stone Perpetuation Program, advanced upon by the current County Surveyor, Bruce W. Allen Jr. Under his directive, the office actively updates and replaces section corner references throughout the entire county. Until recent years, this state mandated program was limited to simply updating stone ties. Progressively, the Surveyor's Office strives to provide the public with the most comprehensive and precise information possible within an environment receptive to current technological standards and the public needs. This has resulted in the formation of specific software database programs designed to maximize departmental record research capabilities in the most efficient and user-friendly manner possible.

The office of Vigo County Surveyor is elected every four years with Bruce W. Allen Jr. currently holding that position. To contact the Vigo County Surveyor or his staff please call (812) 462-3380 or fax to (812) 234-1154. The Surveyor's Office is located in the County Annex Building at the corner of 1st and Oak Streets, 143 Oak Street; Terre Haute, Indiana 47807.

Click Here For List of Local Private Land Surveyors

Treasurer

The office of the County Treasurer is a constitutional office. The constitution of Indiana and Indiana statutory law provide for the election of a treasurer in each county of the state of Indiana to collect taxes, and to be the custodian for all money belonging to the county.

The treasurer being the custodian of all county monies also invests same. It is the policy of the Vigo County Treasurer to invest the public funds in a manner which will provide the highest investment return with the maximum security while meeting the daily cash flow demands of the various funds and conforming to all statutes and other laws governing the investment of public funds at the County level.

After assessments are provided to the County Auditor from assessing officials, the Auditor takes those assessed values along with the tax rates that have been set by the County Council and figures the taxes for all real and personal property. The Treasurer then mails the statements and is responsible for the collection and distribution of all taxes generated within Vigo County taxing units.

The taxing units are the State of Indiana, Vigo County, all Townships, the School Corporations within the county's boundaries, the County Library and the city of Terre Haute and all other incorporated small towns in Vigo County.

The treasurer also collects drainage assessments, animal license registration fees, vehicle license excise tax, sewage collections, aircraft license excise tax, auto rental excise tax, inn-keepers tax, and inheritance tax.

The taxes, when proportioned to the various taxing units as per their approved rate, finance each unit of government each year.


Term: 4 years - elected - two term limit in 12 years

Chief Function of the County Treasurer is to collect and retain custody of and disperse county funds.

  • Most noted for mailing property tax statements and collection of property tax.
  • Also collects:
    • Inheritance Tax on estates
    • Gross Income Tax on real estate
    • Excise Tax from license branches
  • Furnishes clearances for:
    • Alcoholic beverage licenses
    • Mobile home moving or transfer of ownership
  • Responsible for the collection of delinquent taxes
  • Responsible for keeping a record of current property owner's addresses
  • Has the ability to invest any idle funds

Adult Probation

Payment portal found here.

Area Planning Department

The Vigo County Area Planning Department is entrusted with promoting the public health, safety, comfort, morals, convenience and general welfare of the community; guiding the future development of the City of Terre Haute, the Town of Riley, the Town of Seelyville, the Town of West Terre Haute, and the remaining areas of Vigo County; securing adequate light, air, convenience of access, and safety from fire, flood, and other damage; lessening or avoiding congestion in public ways; ensuring that the needs of agriculture, industry, and business be recognized in future growth; ensuring that residential areas provide healthful surroundings for family life; and ensuring that growth be commensurate with and promotive of efficient and economical use of public funds.

The Vigo County Area Planning Department enforces the Zoning, Subdivision and Flood Control Ordinances; produces and maintains maps for governmental and public use; and advises the Planning Commission and other legislative bodies as to zoning rules and regulations.

Meeting Dates and Deadlines

Area Plan Commission Meeting Dates and Deadlines 2024 (Rezonings and Subdivisions)
Vigo County Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting Dates and Deadlines 2024
Terre Haute City Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting Dates and Deadlines 2024


Forms and Documents

Applications Ordinances
Vigo County Unincorporated Rezoning Petition Vigo County Unified Zoning Ordinance
Town of West Terre Haute Rezoning Petition City of Terre Haute Zoning Code (See Ch. 10)
Town of Riley Rezoning Petition Vigo County Subdivision Control Ordinance
Town of Seelyville Rezoning Petition Vigo County Flood Hazard Ordinance
City of Terre Haute Rezoning Petition

Major Subdivision Petition (Commercial/Industrial/Residential 6 Lots or More)

Minor Subdivision Petition (Residential 1 to 5 Lots)
Application for County Board of Zoning Appeals - Variance
Application for County Board of Zoning Appeals - Special Exception


 

Vigo County Fire Investigation and Safety Task Force

 

Mission Statement For The Vigo County Fire Investigation and Safety Task Force:

The Vigo County Fire Investigation and Safety Task Force is formed in order to assist Vigo County Fire Departments and Vigo County Law Enforcement Agencies within Vigo County, Indiana.  The Vigo County Fire Investigation and Safety Task Force will assist in the investigation of fires when requested by the department having jurisdiction over a fire.  The Vigo County Fire Investigation and Safety Task Force will promote and further the education of individual who investigate or are involved in the public safety sectors.  The Vigo County Fire Investigation and Safety Task Force is designed to assist in fire investigation with the goals to encourage inter-agency coordination and cooperation, to achieve greater productivity with existing resources, and to result in stronger prosecutions through a team approach of solving the crime of arson.

If you have information regarding an arson, 

Report it to Crime Stoppers

For Further Information Contact Us At

mailto:ArsonTaskForce@VigoCountyFire.com

 

Building Inspections Department

The Vigo County Building Inspections Department is under the control of the County Commissioners and enforces the Vigo County Ordinance and County Building Codes. The inspections department issue's Building, Electric, Plumbing and Demolition permits, and performs inspections on all construction.

They enforce Vigo County Code Chapter 62 ( Unsafe Building Code ), Chapter 52 ( Health Nuisances ), Chapter 47 ( Weed and Vegetation Control ), Chapter 54, ( Junk Vehicles ) and Chapter 61 ( Building Code Ordinance )

They require a copy of State approved plans for all commercial construction, as well as a copy of the design release.

They require any construction that will add square footage to complete an "Improvement Location Permit." This is a three step process involving the Area Planning Department and the Vigo County Board of Health Department.