Redkey OK's rate increase (05/25/07)

REDKEY - Water customers here will soon be digging deeper into their wallets and purses to pay water bills.

Redkey town council unanimously approved a 50 percent water rate hike Thursday night, increasing a minimum water bill from $7.72 a month to $11.58 a month.

A customer using 4,000 gallons of water a month, will see his or her bill increase from $14.50 to $21.75 a month. This amount will be separate from the wastewater treatment charge which is not being increased, Redkey clerk-treasurer Sandy Kirby said.

She added that it will probably be two to three months before the new rates go into effect, as the council also improved the purchase of new computer program software and both changes will take time to implement.

Kirby recommended purchasing three new computer programs from Keystone of Indianapolis. She said Keystone offered budgeting, payroll accounts and billing programs for a total of $12,300 for Redkey. This payment could be spread over several months, she added.

This move will update a water billing system which was woefully out of date when Kirby originally took over as clerk-treasurer, and town council members unanimously agreed to the plan.

A public hearing was conducted prior to the vote on the water rate hike with questions raised about whether or not the present water tower and tank were worth repairing, and if the town could charge the owners of vacant buildings some sort of fee to help with the water system repairs.

Redkey resident Joe Anderson raised the latter concern, showing pictures of about 25 locations in town where there were empty structures with no water bills being paid. Anderson said he could supply more pictures, if needed.

There could be a debt service charge enacted against all property owners to help pay for construction of a new water tower, explained attorney Leslie Matheson who was representing the law firm of town attorney John Brooke at Thursday night's meeting.

Several town council members also pointed out that the large number of vacant structures in town was indeed a problem, but owners could not be required to pay water bills, if they weren't receiving any water.

"If there's no one living there, why should they pay a water bill?" council member Dottie Quakenbush asked. "You can't charge somebody if they're not getting the service," she added.

Council member Charles Noble noted that one of the photographs showed a piece of property where Noble is in the process of making improvements. Noble told Anderson "to keep your nose out of my business."

As the debate continued, town utilities employee Greg McIlwain commented, "It's sad to go around town and see all these homes vacant."

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

•Were once again informed that vandalism has been a major problem at Redkey's Morgan Park. Police patrols should be increased and parents should be held responsible if any of their children are caught in the act of defacing or destroying property, park board member Terrie Heston said.

Eric Young, also a member of the park board, pointed out that the park shelter building has been hit hard by vandals, and maybe it should be kept locked in the future, except for special events.

•Approved revisions in the town's personnel policy in an attempt to make the document clearer and more concise.

•Approved a contract with local resident Robert Bicknell to have town property mowed during the spring, summer and fall growing season for a cost of $525 a month. Under the terms of the agreement, Bicknell will provide the mowing equipment and the town will supply the gasoline.[[In-content Ad]]REDKEY - Controversy revolving around the police department and an apparent personality conflict between Marshal Donnie James and town council member Char-les Noble erupted at Thursday night's meeting.

The de-bate be-gan with a series of questions and concerns which were raised by Redkey resident Phil Philebaum, who is running as a Democratic candidate for council.

Phil Philebaum and his son, Scott Philebaum, a Redkey reserve police officer, voiced strong objections to comments reportedly made by Noble inside a Dunkirk business recently. However, neither were present to personally hear what had been said, and Noble responded Thursday that he was mis-quoted. "I didn't say that," Noble said.

Later Noble apologized about any wrong impressions that might have been created as a result of his comments.

Joining the discussion, James said, "The police department has no reason to be run down the way you have been running it down."

After James and Noble exchanged a few more words, Noble said that he has intentionally tried to avoid talking to the marshal during the last four to five months, which is roughly the same time that Noble has served on the town council.

As Thursday night's debate continued, James asked Noble to stop putting labels on him, and Noble said he was compiling "a dossier" on James, but he didn't want to say anything more about it.

However, Noble did say, "I'm not harassing you, I haven't talked to you in five months."

Finally, town council president Doug Stanley interrupted, saying, "Your comments are out of order." Stanley said he didn't feel the police should be subject to these sort of criticisms.

Noble subsequently apologized to the town council president, and then tried to address James as "super cop." However, James told Noble - "Excuse me. Please don't call me names."

Stanley said, "I'm tired of this stuff," adding that he didn't want any more "bashing" of town employees or police officers.

"I'm not going to sit here and take this," commented Stanley, who is the council member who is responsible for supervising police department operations.

Specifically referring to the police force as well as other town employees, Stanley said, "I see a lot of good people trying to do a good job." The council president then told Noble to "take your own agenda out of the board meetings." An apologetic Noble said he would change.

Stanley said, "There are some serious problems (relating to crime and social issues in Redkey) here, and we have a good police department and don't want to screw it up."