Cash flow a concern in Redkey (07/18/2008)

REDKEY - Cash flow shortages and other financial problems are continuing to result in some rough-going and bumpy economic times for town officials here.

Redkey clerk-treasurer Sandy Kirby told council members Thursday night that several more inter-departmental loans will be needed because the town is still its first semi-annual property tax revenue.

Normally town officials would have received tax draw revenue from spring property tax bills by now, but those bills have yet to be sent out by Jay County officials, Kirby said.

Consequently, she asked for approval of transfers ordinances from funds where surplus money remained in the 2008 budget to other departments which will be facing short-falls in the near future. One of the ordinances transferred $4,000 to the police department operating supplies and gasoline fund, while the other ordinance transferred $80,540 from four different funds, including the Rainy Day Fund, to the general fund to meet current expenses.

Kirby said these loans must be re-paid by Dec. 31.

Also Thursday, council agreed to increase the monthly fee which residents pay for trash collection services from $8 to $10 a month. Council president Doug Stanley explained that the town's contract for that service with BestWay Disposal Co. of Randolph County had increased several months ago, and the $2 a month increase was needed to keep pace.

Stanley said the $2 increase represented a minimum figure in his opinion. Councilman Charles Noble said a $3 increase might be more realistic. However, council members voted 4-1 in favor of the $2 increase with Noble casting the negative vote.

In other business at Thursday night's meeting, council members:

•Approved an agreement with newly hired full-time deputy marshal Donnie R. Miller that Redkey would pay for Miller's tuition and other expenses to attend Indiana Law Enforcement Academy classes with the understanding that Miller would serve on the department for a minimum of three years after his graduation date. If Miller decides to leave before the three years, he will be responsible for reimbursing Redkey for its tuition costs and other expenses.

Stanley said that Miller had already signed the agreement, and council members voted 4-1 to approve it. Noble cast the negative vote. He previously voted against hiring Miller on the basis that he believes the town only needs two full-time police officers, not three.

•Noted that Indiana and Michigan Power Company officials were continuing to work on the town's request to reduce the brightness of most of the street lights in the community from 22,000 lumens each to 9,500 lumens in order to save approximately $4,000 a year. The changeover should begin pretty soon, council member Terri Taylor said.

•Agreed to a plan to upgrade several streets in town with a slurry seal process as opposed to standard asphalt paving, as a cost-saving measure. Taylor recommended this plan, noting there would be a substantial savings, as five different sections of town streets could be repaired for approximately $19,400, as compared to about $80,000 for re-paving.

The work will be done by Pavement Solutions Inc. of Middletown and include repairs to High Street from Ash Street to the railroad tracks; Main Street from George to Harrison; Oak Street from High to Main; Oak Street from Plum to Boyce; and Delaware Street from George to Harrison.

Taylor said the work would probably not be done until September, but she wanted to make sure that Redkey was included on the company's schedule. Payment will not be made until after the work is completed, town officials said.

•Approved a change in procedures for police uniform clothing allowance expense payments, basically reverting back to a prior practice. At one time officers were given a flat fee clothing allowance twice a year. That procedure was changed about a year ago to require officers to have the town purchase the clothing directly, making the clothing the property of the town.

Stanley said that practice created extra bookkeeping work for the clerk's office.

Marshal Donnie James said that recently an officer left the department. The officer's clothing items belonged to the town, but they did not fit other members of the department.

The clothing allowance change was approved by a vote of 3-2 with council members Noble and Dottie Quakenbush voting against the switch.

•Noted that stray dogs and other animals, such as groundhogs and raccoons running loose in the community, had become a major problem, and approved employing the services of Critter Control of Pennville on a temporary basis at a cost of $50 a week to bring the problems under control.

•Heard a report from Stanley that the town is currently seeking to hire an engineer on a part-time basis to help deal with its combined sewer overflow problems, as recommended by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

•Received a favorable report on the Independence holiday activities in Redkey's Morgan Park from Fire Chief Randy Young who also thanked local residents, businesses and especially Gene Stigleman for contributing to make the fireworks show possible. "All in all, it was a great program," Young said. Redkey resident Terri Heston described the fireworks show as "just awesome."

•Tabled discussion until a future meeting on procedures regarding the use of Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) funds. Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley distributed packets of information for all the council members and clerk-treasurer to review.

•Agreed to increase insurance coverage to cover recent improvements at Morgan Park. The premium for the coverage will increase $260 per year. This was recommended by the town's insurance agent Bob Brown of Barnum-Brown Insurance.

•Were asked by Stanley to consider holding two meetings a month, rather than one, in light of Thursday night's meeting lasting close to three hours.[[In-content Ad]]