Redkey hires Miller as utility worker

REDKEY — Todd Miller is returning to work for the town in a different capacity.

Redkey Town Council hired Miller, who previously served as town marshal for seven years, as a utility worker at a special meeting Thursday.

Town officials have been looking to fill utility roles since longtime town employee Randy Young resigned July 11.

Ted Kolodka has been handling utility operations since June 20, when council hired him as a utility worker after Young took medical leave. Council agreed in July to hire Mike Carlin as a second utility worker, but Carlin later refused the offer.

Council president Brenda Beaty noted one other individual, Matthew Gore, applied for the job. She pointed out Gore works in Randolph County and intended to seek weekend work instead of a full-time position. As for Miller, Beaty advocated for hiring him as a utility worker.

“We’ve looked over his application and find him to be a great candidate for the position,” said Beaty. 

Council members Jim Phillips and Beaty voted in favor of hiring Miller, with Floyd Life dissenting and Dave Dudelston and Gavin Grady absent. Clerk-treasurer Gloria May voted in favor of hiring Miller as well. (Per Indiana Code 36-5-2-8, “the clerk-treasurer is an ex officio member for the purpose of casting the deciding vote to break a tie.”) 

Miller served as a park ranger at Tennessee State Parks for six years and had a water distribution license through the state. His other work history includes being a high school criminal justice teacher for four years, an officer and later chief at Dunkirk Police Department for about five years and as a teacher at a state prison in Tennessee.

Miller resigned as town marshal in May 2022, leaving the town with no officers at its police department at that time. (Then-deputy marshal Tim Fishbaugh resigned the month prior.) 

He pointed to the high turnover in the police department when he resigned, sharing criticism of council regarding its expectations of officers as well as officers’ working conditions and pay. He cited multiple reasons for leaving in his resignation letter, specifically the department’s lack of a take-home vehicle policy at that time, no overtime pay or a retirement fund, and high-costing family plan insurance. 

Miller also left Redkey Police Department to pursue a position with Jay County Probation Office, serving in the role for about two years. 

He applied for an officer position at Redkey Police Department in July of this year, but he was not selected for the job.

Miller’s employment is subject to drug testing and a background check. He’ll likely begin the process Monday. Plans are for Miller to train and work alongside Kolodka to manage the town’s utilities.

“(It’s) a different opportunity outside of law enforcement,” said Miller, noting his relatives in town and his hopes in filling the need for a second utility worker.