July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Waving the caution flag (10/20/06)
Redkey Town Council
By By ROBERT BANSER-
REDKEY - Keeping a lid on spending and other financial issues continue to demand attention from town council members here.
At Thursday night's regular monthly council meeting, Redkey clerk-treasurer Sandy Kirby said, "I know I sound like a broken record, but we've just got to keep a hold on spending - in the general fund especially.
"The spending has got to be kept at a bare minimum. I'm telling you: Don't buy anything you don't have to," Kirby said.
Meanwhile that also seemed to be the feeling of area residents concerning the council's attempt to sell the police department's 2002 four-wheel drive, Ford crew cab pickup truck and its snowplow. The council had set minimum bids of $17,000 on the truck and $3,000 on the snowplow.
Council president Dottie Quakenbush said that she was "surprised" that the town didn't even receive one bid on either item. Consequently, the truck and plow will be used as a trade-in to Ken Kunkle Chevrolet-Cadillac on a new 2007 Chevrolet police-special Impala. Kunkle offered the town $15,000 trade-in value for the truck and snowplow towards the police car, priced at $19,293.
Council member Violet Erlenbush once again said she thought it would be better for the town to keep the truck and snowplow for use in the winter. However, other council members pointed out that the new police car had already been ordered and the trade-in was needed to make the purchase feasible.
On a more positive note, Redkey Fire Chief Randy Young reported that his department had been successful in locating a used 1981 fire engine pumper truck to replace the department's 1967 backup vehicle which just barely passed its previous testing requirements.
Young said that the volunteer firefighters had secured a loan to purchase the truck and intended to pay for it without town funds.
Young said the asking price for the 1981 pumper truck was $18,000 but the department was able to purchase it for $14,000.
It needs some engine repair work which the department plans to take care of itself, Young said. He added that the volunteers plan to sell the 1967 truck, possibly on eBay.
Clerk-treasurer Kirby said she was glad to hear that the volunteers were arranging to buy and repair the 1981 truck on their own, as the town didn't have any money appropriated for a new fire truck or extra equipment for it.
Earlier in Thursday night's meeting, Kirby explained that increases in the town's water and sewer rates should be considered as soon as possible, perhaps so they could take effect by the beginning of next year.
However, council member Erlenbush said that Wayne Bailey of Commonwealth Engineering, Indianapolis, was currently reviewing the town's needs concerning a new, larger water storage tank as well as other water department improvements. Erlenbush advised that council members should not take any action on water rate increases, until Bailey was ready to make a recommendation about the overall needs of that department with the idea that one substantial raise was better than several small ones.
"The board is going to have to start considering rate increases for the water and sewer departments for the first of next year," Kirby said. Meanwhile, Erlenbush continued that such increases are definitely part of the plans involving construction of a new water tower or reservoir tank, adding that she has been talking regularly with Bailey.
Council president Dottie Quakenbush asked Erlenbush to make arrangements to have Bailey make a presentation on the issue at the next Redkey council meeting at 6 p.m. Nov. 16 in town hall.
Town attorney John Brooke said a professional rate study should be made to determine what town water customers should be paying. This will take time to complete, he said.
Meanwhile, Kirby pointed out, "Our expenses just keep going up and up, and we can't continue to operate like this."
However, Brooke said that the town may have to "limp along" like it has been for a little while longer, pointing out that financially things were better than they were just a few months ago. Kirby agreed with his assessment, saying: "We're making progress."
On a related issue council members approved an ordinance setting a $30 fee for each check presented to the town which is not honored by a bank as a result of insufficient funds or some other reason. Kirby reported that recently this has been a problem. The new ordinance will cover all checks given to the town, not just those for water and sewer service.
The idea of allowing persons to pay their utility bills with credit cards was also discussed at the meeting. Brooke said it is possible to adopt a user-convenience fee to have the customer cover the extra charge which the credit card company assesses for this added convenience.
Also Kirby reported that the Indiana Auditor's officer had awarded Redkey $9,790 as its share of Major Moves money from the state. Several town officials noted that this was a lot less than places in northern Indiana, closer to the Indiana Toll Road, had received.[[In-content Ad]]
At Thursday night's regular monthly council meeting, Redkey clerk-treasurer Sandy Kirby said, "I know I sound like a broken record, but we've just got to keep a hold on spending - in the general fund especially.
"The spending has got to be kept at a bare minimum. I'm telling you: Don't buy anything you don't have to," Kirby said.
Meanwhile that also seemed to be the feeling of area residents concerning the council's attempt to sell the police department's 2002 four-wheel drive, Ford crew cab pickup truck and its snowplow. The council had set minimum bids of $17,000 on the truck and $3,000 on the snowplow.
Council president Dottie Quakenbush said that she was "surprised" that the town didn't even receive one bid on either item. Consequently, the truck and plow will be used as a trade-in to Ken Kunkle Chevrolet-Cadillac on a new 2007 Chevrolet police-special Impala. Kunkle offered the town $15,000 trade-in value for the truck and snowplow towards the police car, priced at $19,293.
Council member Violet Erlenbush once again said she thought it would be better for the town to keep the truck and snowplow for use in the winter. However, other council members pointed out that the new police car had already been ordered and the trade-in was needed to make the purchase feasible.
On a more positive note, Redkey Fire Chief Randy Young reported that his department had been successful in locating a used 1981 fire engine pumper truck to replace the department's 1967 backup vehicle which just barely passed its previous testing requirements.
Young said that the volunteer firefighters had secured a loan to purchase the truck and intended to pay for it without town funds.
Young said the asking price for the 1981 pumper truck was $18,000 but the department was able to purchase it for $14,000.
It needs some engine repair work which the department plans to take care of itself, Young said. He added that the volunteers plan to sell the 1967 truck, possibly on eBay.
Clerk-treasurer Kirby said she was glad to hear that the volunteers were arranging to buy and repair the 1981 truck on their own, as the town didn't have any money appropriated for a new fire truck or extra equipment for it.
Earlier in Thursday night's meeting, Kirby explained that increases in the town's water and sewer rates should be considered as soon as possible, perhaps so they could take effect by the beginning of next year.
However, council member Erlenbush said that Wayne Bailey of Commonwealth Engineering, Indianapolis, was currently reviewing the town's needs concerning a new, larger water storage tank as well as other water department improvements. Erlenbush advised that council members should not take any action on water rate increases, until Bailey was ready to make a recommendation about the overall needs of that department with the idea that one substantial raise was better than several small ones.
"The board is going to have to start considering rate increases for the water and sewer departments for the first of next year," Kirby said. Meanwhile, Erlenbush continued that such increases are definitely part of the plans involving construction of a new water tower or reservoir tank, adding that she has been talking regularly with Bailey.
Council president Dottie Quakenbush asked Erlenbush to make arrangements to have Bailey make a presentation on the issue at the next Redkey council meeting at 6 p.m. Nov. 16 in town hall.
Town attorney John Brooke said a professional rate study should be made to determine what town water customers should be paying. This will take time to complete, he said.
Meanwhile, Kirby pointed out, "Our expenses just keep going up and up, and we can't continue to operate like this."
However, Brooke said that the town may have to "limp along" like it has been for a little while longer, pointing out that financially things were better than they were just a few months ago. Kirby agreed with his assessment, saying: "We're making progress."
On a related issue council members approved an ordinance setting a $30 fee for each check presented to the town which is not honored by a bank as a result of insufficient funds or some other reason. Kirby reported that recently this has been a problem. The new ordinance will cover all checks given to the town, not just those for water and sewer service.
The idea of allowing persons to pay their utility bills with credit cards was also discussed at the meeting. Brooke said it is possible to adopt a user-convenience fee to have the customer cover the extra charge which the credit card company assesses for this added convenience.
Also Kirby reported that the Indiana Auditor's officer had awarded Redkey $9,790 as its share of Major Moves money from the state. Several town officials noted that this was a lot less than places in northern Indiana, closer to the Indiana Toll Road, had received.[[In-content Ad]]
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