Council thanks Kirby

REDKEY — Clerk-treasurer Sandy Kirby was thanked for her years of dedicated service to the community Thursday night, as she discussed her plans to retire at the end of the year.
Even though she still has a year remaining in her term, Kirby said she and her husband, Gerald, felt the time was right to retire, as Gerald Kirby’s term on the Jay County Council also expires Dec. 31.
In her retirement letter to the town council, Kirby said she would stay on the job through Dec. 31, and remain available to help with ongoing projects through the beginning of 2011.
Democratic leaders will name a clerk for the remainder of Kirby’s term, Jay County Democratic chairman Tim Southworth said. Redkey residents interested in the position may send resumes to 5910 E. North St., Salamonia, IN, 47381. The deadline is Dec. 8.
Kirby, who had served as clerk in the late 1970s and early 1980s, returned to the position in 2005 shortly after the resignation of clerk-treasurer Brenda Adkins, who eventually pleaded guilty to felony charges of misappropriating more than $30,000 in town and utility funds.
In a letter to town council members read at Thursday’s night’s council session, Kirby said, “Much has been accomplished in the past five years. I am honored to have played a part in these accomplishments.
“The town was near bankruptcy when I was asked to come back to assume the clerk-treasurer’s duties,” Kirby said, pointing out that the town’s bank balance at that time was less than $10,000.
She said the town’s current balance exceeded $850,000 at the end of September.
Councilman Jim Funkhouser said a ceremony recognizing Kirby for her years of service should be organized by the council.
After being appointed to fill the clerk-treasurer vacancy in 2005, Kirby won election to the post in 2007. She had previously served as Redkey clerk-treasurer from 1976 to 1983. Later she worked for the Indiana State Board of Accounts for more than 19 years, retiring from there in 2003.
In other action at Thursday night’s meeting, town council members:
•Took the first step to reorganizing Redkey’s address numbering system by approving a resolution to ask the Jay County Commissioners to implement the Jay County 911 address system within the corporate limits of Redkey.
The resolution points out that the town “currently has several different address numbering systems in place concerning residential and commercial property” and a more uniform system is needed, especially when emergency vehicles are trying to locate addresses.
The resolution was approved unanimously.
•Heard a report from Fire Chief Randy Young that Santa Claus will be arriving at 6 p.m. at the gazebo in Redkey’s downtown mini-park on  Friday, Nov. 26. As usual, Santa will be available to meet with children and discuss their holiday wish lists.
•Approved the purchase of two metal toolboxes to be mounted in a town pickup truck from Fastenal of Portland for $299.81 each, and a Reese hitch for $137.87, also from Fastenal. Councilman Phil Philebaum said these were the lowest quotes received.
•Tabled for further review a proposed capital assets plan for Redkey. Councilman Doug Stanley said the Indiana Department of Environmental Management had recommended that such a plan be prepared to improve Redkey’s chances of receiving future grant funding for combined sewer separation projects.[[In-content Ad]]