It was all about the money when the Crothersville Town Council met Dec. 18 for the final time in 2008. The year-ending meeting is a traditional time for approving late December bills to be included in the current fiscal year’s expenditures.
It was noted that the town’s water & sewer bills would go up 3% on January 1. A combined water and sewer for minimum usage will go to $46.49 in January, up from $45.12 currently. The $9 a month trash/recycling fee did not go up.
The council approval a resolution for a hazard mitigation plan. The FEMA formality will allow the town to recoup 75% of the local expenditures of $2,053 to clean up debris left from Hurricane Ike on Sept. 14.
The longest discussion of the evening involved approving salaries for town employees for 2009.
The council quickly decided that elected officials for the town would make no more next year that they made in 2008. Just a quickly came a determination that part-time and seasonal help would likewise not get a raise.
After substantial discussion, the council agreed that, with two exceptions, full time employees would receive a three percent increase for 2009.
Town water utility worker Danny Derringer and sewer plant operator Mason Boicourt were granted higher wage increases since each had passed state tests to be certified operators of their respective area of supervision.
Derringer’s hourly wage will go up from $13.05 to $14.55 for 2009; Boicourt’s wage will got from $8.55 to $11.37 next year.
Other employees will receive a 3% increase for 2009. They include police officers Norman Ford from $16.95 to $17.46; Vurlin McIntosh, $15.05 to $15.50; Daryl Hickman, $11.80 to $12.15; town street department worker Donald Roth from $15.15 to $15.60; office manager NaLona Bush from $12.55 to $12.93; office utility clerk Alisa Sweazy from $11.80 to $12.15.
The clerk-treasurer’s annual salary was frozen at $9,500 per year and the council froze their own salary at $2,400 a year for 2009.
In another matter, the council agreed to hire North Vernon based FPBH as consulting engineers to assist with IDEM compliance for combines sewer overflow requirements.
