Redkey to use Leap for IT

REDKEY — It’s time to get a leap on computer protection and support.

Redkey Town Council agreed to utilizing Leap Managed Information Technology Services of Muncie for information technology services at its meeting Tuesday.

Also, at a special meeting Wednesday, council agreed to put office assistant Billie Hammond — she was suspended with pay last week — on a performance improvement plan moving forward.

Council OK’d Leap in May to conduct an assessment on the state of the town’s information technology currently. Al Holdren of Leap explained Tuesday that his company discovered several issues, which he said weren’t uncommon to municipalities.

“You need a lot,” he said. “Right now, we haven’t been up, we’re starting with training wheels and we’re going to go forward …”

Some general needs he pointed to included security backup, firewalls and outdated computers (Microsoft is ending support for operating system Windows 10 in October). 

Leap takes care of 150 clients, including Winchester, Eaton, Tipton, New Castle, Riley Children’s Foundation, United Way, and Jay County REMC and Randolph County. (Jay County Commissioners and Jay County Council also approved moving forward with the company for the county’s information technology services this month.)

Holdren proposed council begin renting nine new computers and a printer from his company, which would come with security software. The offer also includes up to four hours of on-site support as well as remote support from Leap.

In total, the proposal came with a $2,500 one-time installation fee, along with a $976.98 monthly maintenance fee and $669.34 monthly rental fee. (Holdren explained it would cost roughly $18,000 to purchase new computers outright and suggested council rent instead, pointing to technology’s short lifespan.)

Council president Brenda Beaty noted the company didn’t review Redkey Fire Department’s technology, and she suggested firefighter Mark Leavell connect with council or Holdren to share technology needs after the meeting. Holdren said it would cost an additional $129 to rent another new computer for the department.

Council members “Watermellon” Jim Phillips, Jenny Staver, Byron Daugherty, Floyd Life and Beaty approved an agreement with the company.

Council also heard Tuesday from several residents about its decision last week to suspend Hammond. 

Residents questioned the reason for Hammond’s suspension, with council members saying legally they are not allowed to share details regarding a personnel issue. One resident accused council of taking action against Hammond for personal reasons.

Leavell asked council members to hold themselves to the same level of accountability as they hold their employees, pointing to several allegations against two council members.

“Unless you guys as a council are saying that you are held to a different standard than what your employees are, whatever you’re going to do to your employees, you ought to do to yourselves,” he said.

At a special meeting following an executive session Wednesday, council agreed to create a performance improvement plan for Hammond.

“The council has talked about it, and we are going to do a personnel improvement plan for 90 days with 30-day reviews. Every 30 days she will get a review, and we will discuss it with department heads,” said Beaty.

Also Tuesday, council approved a resolution related to paying new office manager Jessica Fugiett.

Council hired Fugiett as a full-time office manager at its meeting July 17. It also approved an emergency resolution the same day appointing her to carry out utilities billing and financial operations for the town. (Attorney Maura Hoff explained the town needs to undergo a water rate study within the next few months and is currently unable to do so because of how finances are recorded.)

According to the resolution approved Tuesday, clerk-treasurer Gloria May instructed Fugiett not to enter town hall.

“As a result of the Clerk’s directive, Mrs. Fugiett has been denied the opportunity to perform her duties despite the Town Council’s official action hiring her,” the resolution says.

It further authorizes paying Fugiett her regular wages “for all hours that she has been and continues to be instructed not to work or denied access to the Town Hall by the Town Clerk … until such time as the Council provides further direction.”

In other business, council:

•Were reminded the Gas Boom Days festival is slated for Aug. 9 and 10 in downtown Redkey.

•Heard Staver has received two estimates for renovating the town’s playground, which were priced at $1.6 million and $484,000. She shared pictures of what the new equipment — a play set, slides, swings and music-making features — would look like, pointing to a visual representation of the sidewalks coming together to resemble the shape of a key from above. Hopes are to secure a grant through Norfolk and Southern Railroad for the project.

•Approved the following: annual allotments to Redkey Economic Development Corporation and Jay County Development Corporation, at $15,915.48 and $3,000, respectively, with Phillips dissenting; paying $1,772 for regular maintenance on backup generators at the water and wastewater plants; spending up to $4,000 to replace a lift station pump at the wastewater plant; contributing $660 toward Redkey’s fireworks show earlier this month; and spending $380 to replace three stolen signs.

•Heard a request from Leavell to give Redkey Fire Department an estimate on how much it may spend to replace the department’s backup pumper (firetruck), which nearly failed its inspection last year. He reminded council that if the pumper doesn’t pass its inspection this year, the town’s insurance rates will raise.

•Asked Roger Clay — he owns property next to Redkey Morgan Park — to get a quote for how much it would cost to do a land survey on his property. Clay expressed concerns about liability in the event a junior league player gets injured on his property. He requested council to pay for half of the survey.

•Were reminded the water plant determined a 40% loss of water in 2023. “That means for every two gallons pumped, a total of one gallon kind of disappeared,” said utility worker Ted Kolodka. He noted part of that problem could have been because of the old meters’ inaccuracy. Utility workers are in the midst of installing new meters across town.

•Heard a request from resident Alisha Miller to gather volunteers for clean up efforts around town. Relatedly, resident Bill Hall voiced concerns about dilapidated buildings posing a safety hazard, pointing to fear of mold spores. 

•Learned Miller Pipeline paid the town $3,735 in dumping fees for June.

•Decided not to pay a claim for police officer Chris Jack’s fees for attending Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

•Made $1,530.86 in water bill adjustments, with Staver abstaining.