Pierceton Welcomes New Town Marshal

PIERCETON – Pierceton welcomed their new town marshal, Phillip Hawks, as he was sworn in at the monthly meeting Monday.
“I would like to acknowledge our prior town marshal, Jim Bumbaugh, for his 20 years of service to our town,” stated Town Council President Glenn Hall, “and wish him well in his retirement.”
Hawks was sworn in by town attorney Tammy Keirn.
The amendments to the salary ordinance was approved by the council, with the clarifications that the funds to pay the council stipend will be pulled from the general, wastewater, water and the motor vehicle fund. The deputy clerk will have a per-hour wage of $19; utility worker one will have an hourly wage of $20; and the town marshal will have a biweekly salary of $2,461.54
A new amendment to the ordinance states that any unused vacation time that has not been used by the employee by the year-end of the employee’s hire date will be forfeit, with prior approval by the town council.
“Because they were short-handed for quite some time, they accrued substantial extra hours,” said Hall.
Casey Boggs, superintendent for the town of Pierceton’s utilities, accrued 100 hours of vacation, 92 hours could carry over to next year, and the council approved to pay out 60.5 hours of comp time.
Noah Shepherd, an employee in the town utilities, accrued 72 hours of vacation, and 32.75 of comp time, which will be paid out.
New Business
Boggs submitted the required paperwork for Indiana Department of Transportation for the upkeep on the streets, and they did get the paperwork back, “so we are approved,” said Boggs.
Leaf pick-up is still going on, and Boggs stated if anyone wants to bag up leaves, they will come and pick them up. It may take them a little longer, but they will get them.
Also, the youth league is in need of a new board, as the previous board is not interested in running the league next year. Boggs asked the council to help get the word out as soon as possible, and said that the previous board will help to get the new board on their feet.
Hall asked Boggs to give a reminder about snow removal downtown.
“Snow gets pushed by the state onto the sidewalks,” said Boggs. “If you can get it out into a parking space, we will scoop it up and remove it.”
Boggs told the council that if there are any businesses that can move their snow to the municipal lot, the town utilities will take care of it from there.
“I did get a couple of calls from senior and handicapped citizens, if there is some kind of program where the town can provide a sign-up list to help remove the snow,” Hall said, to which Boggs stated he would definitely pass it along to the other guys in the department.
Hawks, in his report, said that the Charger is at Warsaw Auto Complex, because the engine is not good.
“They said it would take several weeks to get it done.” Hawks said.
Vice President Matt Brubaker asked how the new vehicle was coming along, and when they could use that, and Hawks said the last estimate was sometime in January.
Hawks also requested restarting the reserve officers program, which would be a benefit to the town, and not cost any extra. The council approved.
Georgia Tenney gave out kudos to Boggs and his team for the snow removal, along with all the people who came out for the Christmas parade. She gave a special thanks to the Pierceton Fire Department and the Christmas committee for helping make sure the Light Parade was a success.
Hall said Pastor Brandon and his boys were also a great help in making sure that they had a place to stand to see the lights, “and the hot chocolate, of course.”
Starting on Jan. 2, trash pick-up will be on Thursdays. With that, Borden Waste-Away will be distributing totes Saturday, and Sweetheimer totes will need to be on the curb so the company can pick up their bins on Dec. 29.
In other news:
• The official contract with Borden Waste-Away Service LLC was presented with the new rates listed. Approval for the changes, and the official contract were approved as presented.
• The town of Sidney has asked for a renewal of the interlocal cooperation agreement, which will allow for Pierceton officers to cover hours when needed. This coverage is periodic and random, which started last April. After conferring with Hawks, the council accepted the renewal of the agreement.
• The council officially approved bonuses that will be on the Dec. 12 payroll. Brubaker recommended that $1,000 went to the full-time employees, and $300 to the parks employees.
• Clerk’s office hours will change in January. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, the office will be open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesdays they will be open 7:30 a.m. to noon; and will be closed the third Wednesday of the month.
Monthly meetings will be on the second Tuesdays of every month.
The claim docket was approved for $112,687.51.
The next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 13.