SILVER LAKE - An issue discussed at the September meeting of the Silver Lake Town Council was resolved Tuesday night.

Kackie Tiede Chrapliwy, financial ambassador for the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, attended the meeting and addressed concerns about the bookkeeping of Town Clerk Angie Glass.

Chrapliwy, who has 25 years of experience as a town clerk and is certified by several state organizations, said, "(Being a town clerk) is a monumental job.

"When Angie first took office, we worked through a few things. We tackled utilities and payrolls. It was all fresh and new to her."

After Brenda Wadkins questioned the town's finances last month, Glass called Chrapliwy for assistance.

Tuesday night, Chrapliwy explained the town's finances were in line, and no funds were or have ever been missing. She explained the town has accounts at three banks, the budgeted funds in one, the sewer funds in one and the water funds in another.

"When you put the whole package together, you could balance them," said Chrapliwy. "You could balance them right down to the penny."

While the bottom line was balanced on the books, Glass was not aware that each bank had to be balanced separately. Glass also was not aware that it was "necessary for the general fund to get all the money from the payroll transferred over. She didn't know she had to transfer it all (from other funds to the general fund)," said Chrapliwy. "(Glass) was not balancing the banks correctly.

"An immediate deposit into the general fund took care of the situation."

"That is basic bookwork," said Wadkins. "Have you gotten her straightened out? Is she going to be able to balance next month when you're not here?"

"I didn't balance her books, (Glass) balanced her books," said Chrapliwy.

"I did all the paperwork," said Glass.

"Angie has done a tremendous job with this software," said Chrapliwy. "The books are right now."

"Well, I want to see it for myself," said Wadkins.

"I hope this problem is behind us," said council member Tom Waite, "because we're here in a beautiful city and we have got to go forth. This has been a struggle for all of us. Silver Lake is a wonderful place to live."

In other business, the council:

• Set trick or treat hours for Oct. 31 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

• Approved a motion to buy two dumpsters to be used for town waste only. The containers, from ParKan, cost $340 each. One will be used for metal waste and the other will be used for miscellaneous waste. Locks will be installed on the dumpsters to prevent people from trying to put personal trash in them.

• Approved a motion to buy fire extinguishers for the old and new fire stations. The extinguishers from Thompson Fire Safety Supplies will cost $557.50.

• Approved a motion to put a street light on South Elm Street. A proposal to put a speed limit sign on Elm Street was tabled until more information could be obtained.

• Approved a motion to buy three new radios for the firemen. The radios, which cost $395 each, update the system and replace older nearly obsolete radios.

• Announced that a Family Dollar Store will open in Silver Lake sometime in January. Improvement work began in the old Kerlin Motors building, where the store will be located, last week.

Silver Lake Town Council members are Stan Williams, Tom Waite and Ron Jones, president. Town clerk is Angie Glass. [[In-content Ad]]