Seat open on Redkey council (11/16/04)

REDKEY — Town council members here filled a vacancy on the police department Monday night, but are still awaiting a decision by local Republican Party leaders about the appointment of a new member to the town council.

Clerk-treasurer Brenda Adkins said that since the last meeting in October, the lone Republican council member, Brenda Collett, had submitted her letter of resignation, stating that she had moved outside the town limits.

Adkins said she turned the letter over to local Republican Party chairperson Marlys Saxman. Adkins said local GOP leaders will now set up a meeting to select a new council member to fill the vacancy.

Also Monday night, just prior to the start of the regular meeting, the four remaining council members met in executive session to interview finalists for a vacancy on the police department.

It was a tough choice between the two top candidates, but due to his having prior experience in police work, the nod went to rural Dunkirk area resident Donnie James, council president Violet Erlenbush said.

The vote to hire James was unanimous. He had also received a positive recommendation from Redkey town marshal Rick Current.

James, 54, served as a marshal and deputy marshal in Redkey between 1975 and 1985, when he left for a full-time job at Borg-Warner in Muncie. He retired from Borg-Warner last year, and has been working as a full-time dispatcher for the Dunkirk Police Department for the past few months.

Adkins swore in James immediately after the council session. He replaces Weldon Hines, who served as a full-time officer on the department for less than a year.

Also Monday, council members:

•Noted that the Redkey Economic Development Committee had approved spending $23,000 in economic development income tax funds to purchase six lots bordering Redkey’s Morgan Park from rural Redkey resident Roger Clay.

Also, the REDC authorized an interest-free loan of $15,000 in EDIT funds so the fire department could build a pole barn near the town garage. The loan will cover the purchase of materials with the volunteer fire department members providing the labor.

•Learned that Santa Claus will be arriving on a fire truck at the gazebo in Redkey’s downtown mini-park on the Friday, Nov. 26, at 6 p.m. Santa will be available to talk with children about their holiday gift lists.

•Discussed the need for an ordinance outlining requirements for going door-to-door as a solicitor in the community.

•Agreed that notices should be included in the December water bills telling residents that all homes and businesses should have address numbers plainly displayed by the first of next year. Fire Chief Randy Young said this would help emergency personnel find locations quicker.

•Decided to give 30 days notice to cancel the contract with Critter Control of Muncie. Town officials said the number of stray animals, especially raccoons, wandering about town, had decreased substantially. The move was also made for economic reasons, Erlenbush said.

•Heard Erlenbush thank Portland city officials for assistance to correct a problem at the wastewater plant recently. Portland loaned Redkey equipment and provided manpower to clean a clarifier pond at the wastewater treatment plant.[[In-content Ad]]