BURKET – A decision on a new clerk-treasurer was tabled Thursday during the Burket Town Council meeting.
Council President Bill Rayburn said his wife Janet is looking to get out of the position of clerk-treasurer for the town. He said she is willing to stay on until a replacement is found.
The council received a letter earlier this year from the Kosciusko County Republican Party stating the council isn’t doing anything illegal and can handle appointing someone to the position.
Two people showed interest in the position: Katina Webb and Nicole Lowe.
Rayburn said Webb has lived in Burket for 30 or 40 years. She said, “something like that.” Webb said she works as an office manager and does things like accounts payable and receivable.
Lowe said she works in human resources and has taken on some accounting work. She was a stay-at-home mom for 12 years.
Rayburn said since Lowe is not a homeowner, he checked with Silver Lake Clerk-Treasurer Tonya Conley if that would hinder Lowe’s ability to be clerk-treasurer. Conley verified it would not be an issue.
Rayburn said the accounting for the town is manual and the position pays $6,000 a year. The town does provide a computer and a printer is available.
Councilwoman Lena Ball said the town’s phone would be at the clerk-treasurer’s house. Rayburn also said the town can provide a stipend for the cost of internet to the clerk-treasurer’s home for work.
Rayburn said Janet said the clerk-treasurer’s work can be a little overwhelming at first, but it gets better with time.
Lowe asked how many hours Janet usually put in as clerk-treasurer. Rayburn said it depends on the time of the year as budget season can be a little more a time consuming. He estimated at about 10 or so hours a month with sending letters to residents, doing the monthly newsletter, going to the town meetings, doing minutes for the meeting and anything else needed.
The council decided to table the decision so council members can think on who to appoint.
Later in the meeting, resident Vicki Scott asked about the burning ordinance. She wanted to verify that, according to the ordinance, residents are only allowed to burn natural wood in a burn pit. Rayburn said that was correct.
Scott said there is a house that is burning garbage in a burn ring.
Rayburn said he can’t have someone sitting at that property waiting for something to happen. Rayburn said if people are burning things and the smoke causes issues with people with asthma or the smell being bad, they can call the fire department to have them put it out.
Scott asked about who signed the burn permit. She was told the renter signed the burn permit. Rayburn said if the renters are caught burning things they shouldn’t, the council could potentially cancel their burn permit.
In other business, the council heard:
• The town received $201,608.25 from the Community Crossings grant. Plans for repaving 80% of the streets in town is set tentatively for July or August.
• The owner of 109 W. Center St. paid a fine and has been clearing the yard.
• The townwide garage sale is June 2-4 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The next meeting is 7 p.m. June 8 at the fire station.
