Redkey clerk gets 10 percent raise (08/17/07)

By ROBERT BANSER

The Commercial Review

REDKEY - Budget talks moved forward as town council members agreed to grant 2 percent pay increases to all full-time employees here with the exception of the town clerk-treasurer, who will be getting a 10 percent raise.

Currently Redkey clerk-treasurer Sandy Kirby earns $22,585 a year, which is less than the lowest deputy marshal's annual pay.

Town council members unanimously agreed that the clerk-treasurer's salary should be higher so qualified candidates will be interested in the elected office.

"I wouldn't do that job for twice that amount," town marshal Donnie James said, referring to all the extra effort which Kirby has been putting into the clerk-treasurer's post in recent months.

"This is a step in the right direction," town council President Doug Stanley agreed.

The vote to upgrade Kirby's salary was unanimous, but that was not the case with several of the other budget issues.

Town council member Charles Noble once again voiced his opinion that the annual uniform allowances for the full-time police officers should be reduced. Noble suggested that the current $900 figure should lowered to $700 a year for each of the three full-time officers.

Also Noble said that he wanted to make sure that the uniform allotments were used for that purpose - in other words he wanted to see receipts for all the items purchased.

Noble said he wanted such spending items "scrutinized" a little more thoroughly.

Following several minutes of discussion, town council members voted 4-1 to leave the uniform figure at $900 a year, but require that items be purchased at establishments where the town had an account and bills directly sent to the clerk-treasurer. In the past the officers were simply issued $450 checks twice a year to purchase clothing, shoes and other uniform equipment items.

Noble cast the negative vote, saying he would like to see the figure reduced by $200. However, council president Doug Stanley said, "I'm definitely not in favor of cutting it."

Overall, Kirby said the 2008 general fund budget should total approximately $293,000, compared to the 2007 figure of $254,000 which reflected some substantial cuts. Comparing the amounts of the general fund collected from property taxes, Kirby said the figures will increase from $172,000 in 2007 to $181,000 in 2008.

Concerning other budget matters, council members said they would continue to try to save electric costs by reducing the number of street lights in the community.

Also town officials pointed out that heating costs could be saved this winter, if the town hall and police station were better insulated.[[In-content Ad]]Efforts are proceeding to secure grant money for water system improvements here.

Prior to Thursday night's regular meeting and budget work session, Redkey Town Council members conducted a public hearing in anticipation of submitting a $500,000 grant application to the state for funds to replace the town's current water tank and tower, upgrade the water plant and replace water mains in a portion of the community.

Jay County Community Development Director Ami Huffman said Thursday that this grant money will be added to a United States Department of Agriculture grant of $220,000 plus $1.5 million in USDA low interest loan funds that have tentatively been earmarked for the town as a result of efforts by Commonwealth Engineering Inc., Indianapolis, which is doing the engineering consulting work on the project. The town will have 40 years to pay back the loan, council President Doug Stanley said.

Huffman said her office will be filing the $500,000 grant application with the Indiana Office of Rural Government Affairs by Sept. 14.

She requested that any letters of support for the proposal be submitted to either her office in Portland or the Redkey town hall prior to the grant submission date.

Redkey utilities employee Violet Erlenbush said she recently met with Indiana Department of Environmental Management officials who visited Redkey and are monitoring the situation. As long as town officials are showing good faith in trying to solve the present water system problems, IDEM will continue to work with town officials, rather than start enforcement procedures, Erlenbush reported.

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

•Heard a report from Fire Chief Randy Young that the town's tornado warning siren had been repaired and tested for the first time at 7 p.m. Wednesday, and then used to sound a real tornado warning alarm at approximately 1 a.m. Thursday. Everything worked fine both times, Young said.

•Noted that the town was currently accepting resumes for the open position of street and maintenance superintendent to replace Greg McIlwain who was fired Monday after being charged with possession of marijuana plants.

•Approved a proposal from the Redkey Junior League to develop another baseball diamond at Morgan Park and close off a street in the park to make the improvement possible. League representative Donnie James Jr. explained this plan to council members.

•Questioned why a large dumpster was still sitting on the sidewalk along Ind. 1, near the site of the former Redkey Hotel. Town officials said the dumpster was left there several months ago, when renovations were started at the old hotel building.