July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Salaries increasing in Geneva (7/6/05)
Three percent raise approved for town employees
By By Jennifer Tarter-
GENEVA — A $5,000 salary increase for the clerk-treasurer here was approved on first reading Tuesday.
Board members Mike Schwartz, Lew Wingler and Jim Timmons voted to increase clerk-treasurer Doug Milligan’s pay to approximately $27,567 a year.
“We need to get (the pay rate) up. When Doug leaves, it will be hard to get someone in there” (at the current rate), Schwartz said. Milligan is currently paid $22,567 a year.
In related news Tuesday, a 3 percent wage increase was approved for all other town employees.
This will bring town marshal Rob Johnson’s salary to $38,437 a year and town manger Steve Hampshire’s salary to $41,070 a year.
Board members are set to vote on the second reading of the salary ordinance at their Aug. 2 regular meeting.
Board members also heard Milligan report that the general fund budget for 2006 will equal $505,201, which is a $35,042 or 7.5 percent increase from the 2005 budget of $470,159.
The street department budget, which is funded by tax money, totals $211,097 for 2006 — a $10,148 or 5.1 percent increase from the 2005 budget of $200,949.
Also Tuesday, two residents spoke to the board about the proposed sidewalk improvement project.
Butcher Street resident Ricky Raugh told board members that right now he could not pay the $1,650 the town was requesting to complete the sidewalk project in front of his home. This amount is half of the project total, and the town will fund the remaining cost.
Board members told Raugh that previously residents have signed the provided sidewalk improvement project contract with the town, and the total was put against the resident’s property as a no interest lien. Then the resident could pay on the amount as able.
“We have no intent to make a financial hardship for anyone. We just want to make our environment better,” Schwartz told Raugh.
Butcher Street resident John Patch told the board that he plans to do the work to repair the sidewalk in front of his home and asked if he would receive the town’s share of the money to fund the project.
Board members told Patch that previously when residents have completed the projects on their own the town has not funded any part of the project. The board added that they plan to continue that policy.
In other business, board members approved the first reading of an ordinance to prohibit parking on Rainbow Lake Dam. According to the ordinance, violators of this ordinance can be fined up to $100 by police. Fishing or swimming off the dam also will not be allowed.
Also Tuesday, board members:
•Heard Milligan report on Community Development Block Grants for which the town is acting as the fiscal agent.
He said the Red Gold migrant housing project is almost complete. Construction on the Winchester Road drainage improvement project is set to begin within the next two weeks. A site visit is next on the schedule for the proposed library renovation project.
•OK’d a request by the Friends of the Limberlost to create mud flats on four acres inside city limits. The land, located on the west side of Geneva, is owned by Geneva Manufacturing.
No vegetation will be allowed to grow on the land, which is located in a flood plain. The area will be continuously plowed to remove any plants growing on the land. Mud flats are habitat to plovers and sandpipers, Limberlost wetlands manager Ken Brunswick told board members. The land is currently covered with tall weeds that previously has drawn complaints from town residents living near the area.
•Approved a 5 percent increase to fire contracts with three townships in Adams County and one township in Jay County. Payment in Hartford Township in Adams County increased to $3,826 a year from $3,644. In Jefferson Township in Adams County, payment increased to $3,417 a year from $3,254. In Wabash Township in Adams County, the payment increased to $6,423 a year from $6,117. In Wabash Township in Jay County, the payment increased to $3,127 a year from $2,978.
•Approved a resolution that increases the mileage reimbursement rate to the state average of 34 cents per mile from 29 cents a mile.
A second resolution set standards for the use of town owned vehicles by town employees.
Milligan said these resolutions were encouraged by the Indiana State Board of Accounts.
•Heard Hampshire report that larvacide was put in catch basins in the town to prevent hatching of mosquitoes.
•Heard Geneva Park Board president Jason Wilkie report that construction of the toddler equipment at Kofax Park is almost complete.
Wilkie also thanked the companies which donated labor to the current project to construct the concession stand at Kofax Park. The stand is expected to be completed later this year, Wilkie said.
•Announced they will meet on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 6:30 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
Board members Mike Schwartz, Lew Wingler and Jim Timmons voted to increase clerk-treasurer Doug Milligan’s pay to approximately $27,567 a year.
“We need to get (the pay rate) up. When Doug leaves, it will be hard to get someone in there” (at the current rate), Schwartz said. Milligan is currently paid $22,567 a year.
In related news Tuesday, a 3 percent wage increase was approved for all other town employees.
This will bring town marshal Rob Johnson’s salary to $38,437 a year and town manger Steve Hampshire’s salary to $41,070 a year.
Board members are set to vote on the second reading of the salary ordinance at their Aug. 2 regular meeting.
Board members also heard Milligan report that the general fund budget for 2006 will equal $505,201, which is a $35,042 or 7.5 percent increase from the 2005 budget of $470,159.
The street department budget, which is funded by tax money, totals $211,097 for 2006 — a $10,148 or 5.1 percent increase from the 2005 budget of $200,949.
Also Tuesday, two residents spoke to the board about the proposed sidewalk improvement project.
Butcher Street resident Ricky Raugh told board members that right now he could not pay the $1,650 the town was requesting to complete the sidewalk project in front of his home. This amount is half of the project total, and the town will fund the remaining cost.
Board members told Raugh that previously residents have signed the provided sidewalk improvement project contract with the town, and the total was put against the resident’s property as a no interest lien. Then the resident could pay on the amount as able.
“We have no intent to make a financial hardship for anyone. We just want to make our environment better,” Schwartz told Raugh.
Butcher Street resident John Patch told the board that he plans to do the work to repair the sidewalk in front of his home and asked if he would receive the town’s share of the money to fund the project.
Board members told Patch that previously when residents have completed the projects on their own the town has not funded any part of the project. The board added that they plan to continue that policy.
In other business, board members approved the first reading of an ordinance to prohibit parking on Rainbow Lake Dam. According to the ordinance, violators of this ordinance can be fined up to $100 by police. Fishing or swimming off the dam also will not be allowed.
Also Tuesday, board members:
•Heard Milligan report on Community Development Block Grants for which the town is acting as the fiscal agent.
He said the Red Gold migrant housing project is almost complete. Construction on the Winchester Road drainage improvement project is set to begin within the next two weeks. A site visit is next on the schedule for the proposed library renovation project.
•OK’d a request by the Friends of the Limberlost to create mud flats on four acres inside city limits. The land, located on the west side of Geneva, is owned by Geneva Manufacturing.
No vegetation will be allowed to grow on the land, which is located in a flood plain. The area will be continuously plowed to remove any plants growing on the land. Mud flats are habitat to plovers and sandpipers, Limberlost wetlands manager Ken Brunswick told board members. The land is currently covered with tall weeds that previously has drawn complaints from town residents living near the area.
•Approved a 5 percent increase to fire contracts with three townships in Adams County and one township in Jay County. Payment in Hartford Township in Adams County increased to $3,826 a year from $3,644. In Jefferson Township in Adams County, payment increased to $3,417 a year from $3,254. In Wabash Township in Adams County, the payment increased to $6,423 a year from $6,117. In Wabash Township in Jay County, the payment increased to $3,127 a year from $2,978.
•Approved a resolution that increases the mileage reimbursement rate to the state average of 34 cents per mile from 29 cents a mile.
A second resolution set standards for the use of town owned vehicles by town employees.
Milligan said these resolutions were encouraged by the Indiana State Board of Accounts.
•Heard Hampshire report that larvacide was put in catch basins in the town to prevent hatching of mosquitoes.
•Heard Geneva Park Board president Jason Wilkie report that construction of the toddler equipment at Kofax Park is almost complete.
Wilkie also thanked the companies which donated labor to the current project to construct the concession stand at Kofax Park. The stand is expected to be completed later this year, Wilkie said.
•Announced they will meet on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 6:30 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD