Bill Rhoades Remembered During Council Meeting

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Jennifer [email protected]

Warsaw City Council members reflected on Bill Rhoades' life during Tuesday night's council meeting.

Rhoades, who served as District 5 councilman, died Aug. 26. A graveside service was Saturday morning at Oakwood Cemetery.

Rhoades' wife, Diana, attended Tuesday's meeting.[[In-content Ad]]The council held a moment of silence before the meeting and shared their memories of Bill.

"Bill was a hunter, veteran and someone who loved the city, and I appreciated his varied background," councilman Joe Thallemer said.

"I'll miss his love for the city and his warm, firm handshake," councilman Charlie Smith said.

"Bill brought energy to the council and was a great public servant who I will miss working with," councilman Jeff Grose said.

"I liked Bill's sense of humor and that he never took offense to my jokes," councilman George Clemens said.

"I will always remember how he joked around with me about me taking over his position as city street light liaison," councilman Kyle Babcock said.

"I've sat by Bill for nine years on the council, and I remember when I would be ready to say the invocation before council meetings he would still be talking," councilman Jerry Patterson said jokingly.

In other business, the council approved a maximum salary ordinance for 2009 on first reading for department heads, appointed positions and salaried and non-salaried employees.

Wiggins said the council will need to approve the ordinance on second reading.

The proposed salary ordinance is a maximum amount city employees and department heads can be paid, but can be reduced if the council votes to do so, Wiggins said.

If approved, the salaries would be a $750 annual increase for all full-time city employees, according to Human Resources Director Jennifer Whitaker.

Proposed bi-weekly salaries include $1,903.85 for the aviation department manager; $2,307.69 for the building and planning engineer; $1,980.77 for the city planner; $1,740.38 for the cemetery sexton; $1,605.77 for the deputy clerk treasurer; and $1,846.15 for the human resources director.

Other proposed bi-weekly salaries include $1,542.31 for the mayor's secretary; $2,048.08 for the parks and recreation superintendent; $1,946.15 for the park director; $1,567.31 for the park activities director; $2,278.85 for the street superintendent; $2,346.15 for the wastewater utility manager; $2,213.35 for the police chief; and $2,213.35 for the fire chief.

Also during the meeting, the council reviewed a letter from Richard and Freida Helm, 1709 N. Sunfish Drive, dated Aug. 25 that was sent to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.

The letter states the deer population within Warsaw has caused extensive damage. Helms says in his letter that the recent bow hunting efforts in the city limits has helped, but he is still chasing deer from his yard on a regular basis.

In his letter, Helm requests Daniels' office take appropriate steps to direct the Department of Natural Resources to take a more active part in deer eradication within municipalities.

Warsaw City Council members reflected on Bill Rhoades' life during Tuesday night's council meeting.

Rhoades, who served as District 5 councilman, died Aug. 26. A graveside service was Saturday morning at Oakwood Cemetery.

Rhoades' wife, Diana, attended Tuesday's meeting.[[In-content Ad]]The council held a moment of silence before the meeting and shared their memories of Bill.

"Bill was a hunter, veteran and someone who loved the city, and I appreciated his varied background," councilman Joe Thallemer said.

"I'll miss his love for the city and his warm, firm handshake," councilman Charlie Smith said.

"Bill brought energy to the council and was a great public servant who I will miss working with," councilman Jeff Grose said.

"I liked Bill's sense of humor and that he never took offense to my jokes," councilman George Clemens said.

"I will always remember how he joked around with me about me taking over his position as city street light liaison," councilman Kyle Babcock said.

"I've sat by Bill for nine years on the council, and I remember when I would be ready to say the invocation before council meetings he would still be talking," councilman Jerry Patterson said jokingly.

In other business, the council approved a maximum salary ordinance for 2009 on first reading for department heads, appointed positions and salaried and non-salaried employees.

Wiggins said the council will need to approve the ordinance on second reading.

The proposed salary ordinance is a maximum amount city employees and department heads can be paid, but can be reduced if the council votes to do so, Wiggins said.

If approved, the salaries would be a $750 annual increase for all full-time city employees, according to Human Resources Director Jennifer Whitaker.

Proposed bi-weekly salaries include $1,903.85 for the aviation department manager; $2,307.69 for the building and planning engineer; $1,980.77 for the city planner; $1,740.38 for the cemetery sexton; $1,605.77 for the deputy clerk treasurer; and $1,846.15 for the human resources director.

Other proposed bi-weekly salaries include $1,542.31 for the mayor's secretary; $2,048.08 for the parks and recreation superintendent; $1,946.15 for the park director; $1,567.31 for the park activities director; $2,278.85 for the street superintendent; $2,346.15 for the wastewater utility manager; $2,213.35 for the police chief; and $2,213.35 for the fire chief.

Also during the meeting, the council reviewed a letter from Richard and Freida Helm, 1709 N. Sunfish Drive, dated Aug. 25 that was sent to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.

The letter states the deer population within Warsaw has caused extensive damage. Helms says in his letter that the recent bow hunting efforts in the city limits has helped, but he is still chasing deer from his yard on a regular basis.

In his letter, Helm requests Daniels' office take appropriate steps to direct the Department of Natural Resources to take a more active part in deer eradication within municipalities.

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