Redkey hires new town marshal

REDKEY — The town may have a new marshal soon.

Redkey Town Council agreed to hire Chad Pusey, a Jay County native, as town marshal during its meeting Thursday. His employment is subject to required testing and signing a contract with the town.

Pusey, a graduate of Jay County High School, served as chief of police in Oblong, Illinois, for 20 years. He obtained his associate’s degree in law enforcement from Vincennes University, his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Indiana State University and his master’s degree in criminal justice and law enforcement administration from Columbia Southern University. He currently lives in Mishawaka and works as an investigator for St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office in South Bend.

Pusey has several certifications, noted town board president Erik Hammers. He’s certified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a hostage negotiator and certified in special weapons and tactics (SWAT), according to information on the Village of Oblong’s website.

Hammers explained the board interviewed Pusey on Wednesday. He spoke highly of the former Portland resident, noting his background as a chief of police.

“From all the candidates I’ve seen over the years, he is A-one,” said Hammers. 

Board member Floyd Life noted Pusey’s mother lives in Portland, and Hammers said he had shared plans to move back to the area.

Redkey police officer Zach Moser, who normally works second shift, has been filling in since former marshal Kyle Denney resigned Sept. 11. 

Denney — he’s now back to full-time work at Portland Police Department — was the third Redkey Town Marshal to resign within the last 18 months. (Longtime marshal Todd Miller resigned in May 2022. Chance Retter, who took over about a month after Miller left, resigned in January in order to assume his elected position on Redkey Town Council.)

Council members Gary Gardner, Life and Hammers, absent John Pierce and Retter, agreed to hire Pusey.

Also Thursday, council approved its 2024 budget. The budget, set at $508,762, is up about $35,400 from the current year’s budget. The largest increases come from an additional $30,060 allocated for insurance. Next year’s budget also factors in 3% raises for town employees as well as a $1,000 raise for the town attorney.

Council also learned Gardner will be attending the Jay County Commissioners meeting Monday to discuss the county’s role in eliminating the combined sewer overflow (CSO) that originates in a rural part of the county just north of town and lets out near Main and George streets. 

Indiana Department of Environmental Management has given Redkey until the end of the year to come up with a plan to remove it as well as a CSO that starts near Union Street. After that deadline, it will begin to fine the town for the violation.

In other business, council:

•Tabled decision on a $7,350 animal control contract with Jay County Humane Society for 2024. Clerk-treasurer Mary Eley noted Retter suggested teaming up with Dunkirk for animal control. Council decided to hold off on making a decision until the next meeting when town attorney Wes Schemenaur is present, pointing out commissioners recently approved a contract with the group for 2024.

•Approved a $1,430 contract with Evapar Preventive for preventive maintenance at the water plant

•Reviewed Pennville’s zoning ordinance, with Hammers pointing out the council will need to look carefully through its own proposed ordinance — it would likely look similar to Pennville’s — before enacting it. (The process includes joining and relinquishing some control over to the county’s zoning board. Council has discussed creating zoning restrictions in order to qualify for more state or federal grants.)

•Were reminded by town employee Randy Young about the town’s Halloween festivities, which kick off with a costume contest at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 31 and trick-or-treating hours set for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. the same day

•Heard Redkey Fire Department hosted a community cookout Oct. 7 to benefit Pierce, who has been recovering from a stroke