Maymi named interim marshal

REDKEY — A new interim town marshal will begin her duties next week.
Redkey Town Council approved at its meeting Thursday for deputy marshal Jessica Maymi to serve as interim marshal after Marshal Tracy Layman turned in his resignation.
The council also recognized a longtime member of the Redkey Volunteer Fire Department for his years of service, discussed the town’s current personnel policy and heard updates on the sewer separation project and a possible grant for a new fire station.
Council member Mike Wright, who supervises the police department, nominated Maymi to be interim marshal while the town looks for a permanent replacement for Layman. Earlier this week he was hired as an officer with Dunkirk Police Department and will start in that role Monday.
“It was a pleasure working with the town of Redkey and its police department,” Layman said in his resignation letter, which council president Kyle Champ read at the meeting.
Members Ted Friddle, Greg Curme, Charles “Red” Coons, Wright and Champ accepted the resignation and agreed to advertise for two weeks for a new town marshal.   
Maymi and deputy marshal Keith Gardner will work 12 hours shifts beginning Monday and will begin her interim duties on Jan. 22, after Layman’s vacation days are completed.
Young congratulated Coons for his 50 years as a volunteer fireman. Coons had to step down as a volunteer after being elected to Redkey Town Council in November because state law prohibits a volunteer firefighter from holding an elective office.
Council decided to seek additional options for replacement of the roof on Redkey Fire Station after one from Hatzell Brothers, Redkey, came in at nearly $3,000 more than had been budgeted for the work. Young said he will get other quotes.
Young and Jay County community developer Ami Huffman are also continuing to work toward applying for a grant for a new fire station. He noted that more letters need to be sent from the community stating why a new fire station is needed.
Champ said he will get more town residents to write letters.
Mitch Hansel of Fleis & Vandenbrink Engineering, Inc. has been named the new engineer for the sewer separation project following the death of former engineer Randy Kriscunis in December. Young said designs for the new sewage plant have been sent to the state to review with bids set to go out in April.
“So things are moving forward,” Young said.
The street department has dealt with four water leaks in the past two weeks because of the extreme cold, including one at Indiana 67 and Spencer Street, and Curme said employees need a new generator, trash pump and a saw for cutting pipe. Council agreed to purchase a cut-off saw for $839.96 from Hi-Way 3 Hardware. It plans to get quotes for a generator and trash pump.
Coons asked for clarification of responsibilities over town departments, noting that council members are not the bosses of town employees.
Champ agreed, saying council members are “fiscally responsible for the taxpayers. There’s not one person who’s a boss over anybody.”
He said he would get a generic handbook that the town could use to incorporate town policies. Also Coons suggested that employees cross-train to learn each other’s jobs.  
In other business, council:
•Agreed to have Little JJ’s Tree Service, Ridgeville, remove trees around the sewage plant at a cost of $2,400. The work is to be completed by March 1.
•Accepted a bid of $1,628.03 from Kamen Industries in Daleville to replace a bearing at the sewage plant.
•Agreed to have the street department keep the road to the Redkey Park Cabin plowed because the cabin is rented through the winter months.   
•Agreed to pay claims of $166,496.81. James said $34,095.75 paid to Culy Contracting for cleaning and televising sewers will be reimbursed from the sewer separation grant.      
•Agreed to make three water bill adjustments totaling $429.54.