By SYDNEY KENT
Members of the Ossian Town Council continued to work towards approving salary increases at Monday evening’s meeting. The council’s president, Josh Barkley, stated that financial resources from other areas of the town may need to be re-allocated to cover the cost of competitive police officer salaries.
“We’re in a season of new leadership,” Barkley said. “People want to come to Ossian, and I want to be able to support that.”
The council discussed the pay proposals but came to no conclusion about them. The council had been scheduled to hold a special meeting the afternoon of May 1, but that meeting was canceled due to a lack of a quorum.
The decision was made to discuss the idea of raising salaries at the council’s June meeting.
In other business:
• Council member Dennis Ealing requested that members of the Ossian Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioner receive a financial compensation of $600 per year, per member, which would amount to about $50 per month. The request was approved.
• Glen Werling was officially sworn in to the Ossian Town Council at the beginning of the meeting.
• Jay Esparza, the Ossian Park Board’s president, gave updates on board member changes. He reported that member Gary Guenin has submitted his resignation. Jeff Osborn, President of Horizon Events, was sworn in as a new member of the park board Monday evening after a unanimous vote by the council members.
• Esparza told the council that the board has received around $8,000 in donations for the summer concert series so far, as well as a complaint on social media regarding golf carts on the walking trail. Barkley recommended taking an aerial photo of the space and outlining the areas where golf carts are allowed to drive, and sharing that information on social media and online.
• Esparza also reported to the council on behalf of the police commissioners, giving updates on new Watchguard camera installations, new handgun qualifications, and the hiring process for new police officers. Twenty officers will begin testing for spots on the department on May 20.
“The chief has been doing a great job getting everything ready for the department,” Esparza said, referring to Police Chief Kurt Jack.
Esparza also reported that the department’s D.A.R.E. van is “not drivable” and will look into recommendations to give the vehicle to another department.
• Jim Breckler with Engineering Resources, the town’s engineering firm, received approval for $17,800 backup power sources at the Norwell High School lift station.
• David Bass was appointed as an alternative representative for the Wells County Area Plan Commission.
• Insurance premiums through Amstutz Insurance were approved in the amount of $62,909.
• A tax abatement compliance form was approved for Roembke.
• A motion was approved to make the third payment to API Construction in the amount of $91,359.46. The payment was for the work done for Hickory/Shady Lane water line.
• A new hire, John Gentry, was approved for the Street Department.
• The council formally approved the use of town streets for the annual Ossian Days celebration in September.
sydney@news-banner.com
