Redkey hikes township fees

The Redkey Town Board approved a 3 percent yearly increase in township fire protection rates to help keep up with rising costs.

"They did decide to raise the contracts with townships for fire protection to raise them 3 percent and raise them 3 percent each year," said clerk-treasurer Sandy Kirby.

The Redkey fire department covers Richland, Jefferson, Knox and Greene Townships in Jay County and Green Township in Randolph County.

Current fire coverage rates for those counties are Richland, $4,603; Jefferson, $1,627; Knox, $1,144; Greene, Jay County, $209; and Green, Randolph County, $2,109.

"It hasn't been raised for a long time," said town board president Doug Stanley, who was absent from Thursday's meeting but familiar with the move. "We had discussed this with the townships before and I think the rates were probably due to be updated.

"The expenses are a little bit more each year and we kind of just absorb them each year," he added. "This year it was time."

In other business, the town board:

•Heard a presentation from Munilytics, which offered to perform a capital asset valuation for the town. The board will consider the proposal and likely act at the next meeting.

•Announced it will meet in executive session June 23 to review applications for a new police officer to replace Donnie Miller, who is resigning effective June 29.

•Renewed the contract with Michelle St. John to continue as operator of the town water plant until the end of the year.

•Were advised by Kirby to try to cut about 5 percent out of the town budget for 2011. Kirby told the board that she could not predict how the state's property tax caps will affect tax revenue next year.

She will be meeting with the Indiana Department of Local Government finance and will get more information about the how the circuit breaker could affect the town.[[In-content Ad]]