Redkey council planning changes

REDKEY — Town council made plans Thursday to modify some town policies.
Meeting in a special session, Redkey Town Council proposed changes to ordinances regarding use of law enforcement vehicles, parking, abandoned vehicles, weeds and its leave policy.
It also decided to develop an ordinance regarding the sale of alcohol.
Town attorney Wes Schemenaur will work on the new language for the ordinances, which will be up for approval at council’s Oct. 20 meeting.
The change regarding use of law enforcement vehicles would prohibit anyone other than an officer, detainee or someone being transported in the course of an investigation to be transported.
The proposed change comes after council member Mike Wright, who oversees the police department, was criticized at a previous meeting for riding in police vehicles with Marshal Todd Miller.
Another change would allow officers who live outside the town to have their vehicles at their homes when they are on call.
Members Charles “Red” Coons, Dave Dudelston, Ted Friddle, Doug Stanley and Wright also proposed that the leave policy include granting unpaid leave as well as paid leave at council’s discretion. Full-time employees will be granted five sick/personal days per year. If an employee is sick for more than two of those days, a doctor’s note is required.
They also plan to add Martin Luther King Jr. Day as an 11th paid holiday for employees.
Other proposed changes include:
•Allowing town employees to use comp time if the employee and department head keep and sign a record as required by the state board of accounts.
•Paying a $300 clothing allowance to the street/maintenance supervisor and the water supervisor/wastewater superintendent on or before Oct. 1 rather than requiring receipts for reimbursement.
•Prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in parks and other public property unless permission is given by council for a special event. A liquor license, bartender and security will be required.
•Eliminating the time frame for the weed ordinance. Grass will not be allowed to be taller than 8 inches at any time.
•Prohibiting parking on the wrong side of the street and in the town’s right of way between the street and the curb.
Council also agreed to place signs on the electrical box at the town gazebo and other possible areas stating that only authorized personnel can open the boxes. A $250 fine will be charged to anyone cutting the lock to get in the box.
In other business, council:
•Approved James and Friddle signing a Community Crossing grant agreement with Indiana Department of Transportation. Redkey was approved for a $44,096.13 grant through the program for a paving project. It will include paving sections or Wayne, Union and Main streets.
•Agreed to have Schemenaur represent Donnie Knisely and Chuck Fullenkamp in small claims court. They volunteered to help tear down the former town hall building at 20 S. Ash St., which resident Jim Phillips says he owns. Phillips is suing Knisley for stealing his plumbing and Fullenkamp for stealing his bricks. The court date is 10 a.m. Oct. 24.
•Approved Brooks Construction of Fort Wayne to add additional parking at the new fire station at a cost not to exceed $3,000.