Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
ETNA GREEN - Resignations of a town council member and the town's electric superintendent were accepted during Tuesday's Etna Green Town Council meeting.
Ruben "R.B." Conley told fellow council members that his resignation - for personal reasons - is effective Nov. 1. Conley has been on the council since Jan. 1, 2000.
Conley said he already notified Kosciusko County Republican Party Chairman Mike Gavin regarding the open seat on the council.
Because the town doesn't have election districts, there will not be a caucus. As party chairman, Gavin will select the new council member.
Council member Jeff Klinefelter said he is sorry to hear that Conley is resigning.
Another resignation - that of electric superintendent David Fritzel - was announced by council president Eileen Hall, who indicated that the employee contract calls for repayment of training costs if Fritzel remains with the town less than one year. Fritzel began working for the town Feb. 26.
The exact amount Fritzel owes the town cannot be calculated until a figure is obtained for the cost of one day of a five-week school Fritzel attended. He apparently attended classes Oct. 1, the first day of the course, then left, town officials said. A letter of resignation from Fritzel was found in the door at the town hall on Oct. 3, Hall said. She said she is not sure why he decided to quit his job and said telephone calls to his home were either unanswered or unreturned after messages were left.
Clerk-treasurer Laura Baker said the town spent $1,416.45 for Fritzel's training, not including the one day of school yet to be calculated. Fritzel's final paycheck would be $580.41, leaving an outstanding balance due the town of at least 836.04.
The council is expected to meet in executive session sometime next week to discuss hiring a new electric superintendent.
In other business, the council:
• Voted to consider adjusting water and sewer bills for three residents whose water has been affected by ongoing problems. The water must be run more than usual for normal use to rid it of discoloration. Usually, adjustments are only allotted for sewer but the council opted to allow for water to be adjusted only if excessive increases are evident. The adjustments, if needed, will be given for two months.
• Announced bids will be sought for trash collection. The current contract is coming due and the council wants to see if other companies can offer competitive contracts.
• Accepted a bid of $20,635 for interior and exterior remodeling of the Heritage Park building. The work will be done by Trump Construction of Pierceton and is expected to begin after the first of the year. The project will be funded by Economic Development Income Tax money.
Other bids received were $42,400 from Midwest Home Design, Fort Wayne, for the exterior work only and $9,755 from Bourbon Kitchen & Bath for the interior only.
The job includes siding the building, installing ramps at the entrances and remodeling the bathrooms and enlarging doorways to accommodate handicapped accessibility.
• Accepted the resignation of Joann Dean for cleaning town buildings. Anyone interested in the job should contact the clerk-treasurer.
• Asked Baker to send letters to Hoffman Implements and Etna Pub regarding the results of smoke testing of sewer lines. Both businesses have ongoing problems with sewer gas odor and testing showed that the trouble is inside at both locations and not in the town's portion of the pipes. The owners of the businesses will be notified it is their responsibility to correct the matter.
• Announced the vacancy for a civil defense director for the town will be filled as soon as possible. Anyone interested in the volunteer position should contact any council member prior to the November meeting.
The Etna Green Town Council meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month in the fire station meeting room.
