Published: November 23, 2009 11:02 pm      

Sellersburg approves salary ordinance for $1,200 raises

Council members decide not to take pay raise offered

Nearly every employee of the town of Sellersburg will receive a raise in 2010.

The Sellersburg Town Council unanimously approved an ordinance — 2009-027 — giving a flat raise to the nearly 50 town employees of $1,200 per person, annually. Some elected officials, however, decided to decline the raises.

“I am not going to accept the raise,” said council President Brian Meyer.

Meyer then asked each elected official in attendance whether or not they intended to accept the pay increase. One after another, they declined the money.

“I’m going to pass [on] the raise,” said Councilman Paul Rhodes. “My reason being is I’m a little upset with what Congress has done giving themselves a raise in [tough] economic times.

“Times are tight here and I think as an elected official, we basically volunteer to serve this position. Compensation is nice and welcome, but I don’t think I need anything extra at this time.”

All town council members followed suit, declining the raise offered.

Elected Town Court Judge R. Thomas Lowe also was present and declined the raise.

The only elected official in attendance that accepted the raise was Clerk-Treasurer David Kinder. He accepted the pay increase because he had not received a raise in three years and presently is making less than the deputy clerk-treasurer.

All raises take effect Jan. 1

The money will be welcome, as renewal of health insurance coverage — provided by Humana — will increase premiums by 6.25 percent. Although there will be no changes from the existing plan, costs are going up.

Originally, the increase Humana requested was 13 percent, said Joe Olson, who was presenting the renewal plan to the council.

There was no change in the premiums for the group life insurance offered to town employees. The renewal sought was unanimously approved.



In other business

• President of Sellersburg Celebrates!, Terry Purlee, was at Monday’s meeting to offer the council funding and services for a beautification project. According to Purlee, Sellersburg Celebrates! had a budget surplus following the town’s annual celebration this summer.

He was not sure on an amount, but estimated between $7,000 to $8,000 could be available to complete a beautification project.

No definite suggestions were made at the meeting, but the council likely will have project plans at its next regularly scheduled meeting Dec. 14.

• Several construction projects were discussed or allotted more money at Monday’s meeting.

Construction for a sidewalk along South New Albany Street was discussed, but not approved, for the lowest bidder Clark-Nickles Inc. for $31,400.

The relocation of a sewer force-main at Perry Crossing Road — because of the expansion of the road — is costing more than expected. During the relocation, Team Contracting — the company performing the service — had to pump out the sewer line that was nearly 4 1⁄2 miles long.

Pumping that amount of sewage added up to $23,305 in additional expenses.

Team Contracting’s original contract to complete the work totaled $144,300 and with the additional funding totals $167,605, still nearly $60,000 less than the next lowest bidder, said Ken Alexander, Sellersburg’s municipal works director.

Also, phase one of four phases of drainage work to help alleviate flooding issues that have ravaged Sellersburg has been completed. Phase one of the project was along Camp Run Creek and cost less than $6,000.

• The Thanksgiving holiday will impact trash collection services for the town. Residents that normally get their trash picked up Thursday will have their pick-up day on Monday, and Friday’s pick-up is scheduled for Tuesday.



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MORE INFORMATION

• The town of Sellersburg will hold a special meeting regarding its annexation effort of Covered Bridge and areas nearby that neighborhood. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Sellersburg Town Hall.