Hankins resigns in Redkey (03/19/04)

REDKEY — The police department here will have an opening for a patrolman, but not until April 9.

Redkey Town Council members Thursday night voted to accept the resignation of Sgt. John Hankins for the second time in less than two weeks. But this time Marshal Brenda Collett agreed with the move.

About 50 people turned out for Thursday’s meeting, creating a standing-room-only situation in the meeting room. The vast majority of the audience members came to learn about the status of the police department, which has been a subject of controversy since a Feb. 16 council session when Hankins said he was disappointed about the council’s decision not to allow officers to use a taser weapon which had been donated to the department. Shortly after that meeting, Hankins notified the council about his intentions to resign.

However, at the March 6 council meeting, Hankins asked for permission to rescind his resignation, only to have the council vote 4-1 to accept it, with Collett casting the dissenting vote.

Despite that decision, the marshal said that according to state law, she still had the (Continued on page 8)

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authority to keep Hankins on the force, as long as she remained town marshal.

Next, council members consulted with town attorney John Brooke, meeting in executive sessions on Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon this week.

As discussion about the police department got under way Thursday evening, Collett said Hankins had asked her earlier that day to accept his resignation effective April 9.

Collett said Hankins wanted to give adequate notice so that a replacement could be found and the two remaining full-time Redkey police officers would not have to work 12-hour shifts with no weekend breaks until a third officer was hired.

Collett said that state law calls for the marshal to start proceedings concerning the dismissal of deputies, and she initiated that action Thursday night by agreeing to accept Hankins’ resignation.

“He’s submitted his resignation again, and the marshal has accepted it, and now there’s a motion before the town board to accept that resignation,” Brooke said.

Redkey resident Jim Funkhouser said he would recommend letting Hankins go immediately, and not waiting for the April 9 date. However, Collett disagreed, saying it was Hankins’ and her decision to go with the 6 a.m. April 9 deadline. Thus, Hankins will remain on active duty with the department until that time, she said.

Brooke agreed with sticking with that date, saying, he wanted to avoid any potential lawsuits.

The council then voted 5-0 to accept Hankins’ resignation, with town board president Violet Erlenbush saying, “So it’s passed and final.”

Hankins was not present at Thursday night’s meeting, and Collett declined to comment further after the session.

In other business, Erlenbush said that the individual who donated the taser to the town earlier this year, was now requesting that it be returned. Council members voted unanimously to return the taser which has been stored in a safe in the clerk-treasurer’s office in town hall.

Also, Brooke told the council and attending residents that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management wants the town to correct current problems with its storm water and wastewater plant facilities.

During times of heavy rain and melting snow, the wastewater plant can’t keep up with the mixture of storm and sewage water, with the overflow bypassing the plant and going directly into Halfway Creek which is against state regulations, Erlenbush said.

Brooke said IDEM is considering enforcement procedures against the town which could result in fines and other penalties.

The needed improvements and renovations will cost in excess of $1 million, Brooke said, adding: “This is going to be a substantial undertaking for Redkey.”

Erlenbush said not only is Redkey’s sewer system not in good shape, but “the sewer fund is not in good shape, too.”

Brooke said that the Indianapolis accounting firm of H.J. Umbaugh and Associates has been contacted to do a rate study about possibly increasing water and sewer rates.

The attorney said that the next step will be having an engineering firm do a study to determine what changes and improvements are needed to correct the situation.

Erlenbush, who also serves as superintendent of the town’s wastewater treatment plant, said that some of the equipment there dates back to 1964, and “it’s worn out.”

Council members also:

•Unanimously agreed to hire Redkey resident Greg S. McIlwain as a new town employee to work with the street and water departments, as well as helping wherever else he may be needed. He replaces longtime employee Charles Conn, who recently resigned after serving as a town employee for nearly 20 years.

A Delta High School graduate, McIlwain, 40, has worked as a general superintendent and foreman in the construction field, as well as serving as a machinist helper and welder.

•Learned that Rob Newsome would like to construct new houses on a 16-acre site near the Redkey Park and ball diamonds. Erlenbush said she would look into the request, but noted that lack of adequate sewage facilities could be a problem.

•Heard from local resident Marlys Saxman who told council members, “Let’s concentrate on the town’s problems — not bickering.” Council member Dottie Quakenbush said that the new council has only been in office for three months. “Give us a chance to work together,” she said.[[In-content Ad]]