Council votes again to hire utility worker

REDKEY — Council decided to re-vote on hiring a second utility worker.

The outcome was the same.

Redkey Town Council voted again to hire Todd Miller as a utility worker during its meeting Thursday.

Council members voted on the decision Sept. 12 at a special meeting, with “Watermellon” Jim Phillips and Brenda Beaty in favor and Floyd Life in disagreement. Clerk-treasurer Gloria May also tossed in a vote in favor of the measure. (Per Indiana Code, “the clerk-treasurer is an ex officio member for the purpose of casting the deciding vote to break a tie.”) Council members Gavin Grady and Dave Dudelston were absent.

Beaty reached out to The Commercial Review on Sept. 14. After looking at procedure regarding quorum for town councils, she said council would need to revisit the decision at its next meeting Thursday.

Town officials have been looking to fill utility roles for months following longtime town employee Randy Young’s resignation. Ted Kolodka has been handling utility operations since June 20. Council agreed in July to hire Mike Carlin as a second utility worker, but Carlin later refused the offer.

Kolodka explained Thursday the town needs another utility worker. He noted Bill Tressler also does work for the town but talked about a need for more help and divvying out responsibilities. He advocated for hiring Miller.

“We do need somebody who has (the) background. He’s a person who already has experience from water treatment … he knows utility work, he knows Redkey. It’s really a match that’s kind of like dropped out of heaven,” said Kolodka.

Miller previously served as Redkey town marshal for seven years. Prior to his time at the department, he served as a park ranger at Tennessee State Parks for six years and had a water distribution license through the state. 

Miller resigned as town marshal in May 2022, leaving the town with no officers at its police department at that time. He left Redkey Police Department to pursue a position with Jay County Probation Office, serving in the role for about two years. 

Beaty noted the town has sought applications for the position for months and received two. The other applicant, Matt Gore, intended to seek weekend work only.

Phillips, Beaty and Life voted Thursday in favor of hiring Miller. Council members Gavin Grady and Dave Dudelston were not present for the vote.

Also Thursday, Dudelston — he was present for the first 24 minutes of the meeting — asked police officer Jon Cave about a conversation between himself and Beaty earlier this week outside Redkey Elementary School.