ETNA GREEN – Town employees of Etna Green acknowledged that they’ve received the same inquiries the Times-Union has when it comes to salary and conflict of interest in the town.
Several calls to the paper have accused town employees of bloated salaries and that the appointment of a new town council member comes just before a new state law would prohibit it.
The most recent census numbers put Etna Green at 586 people.
Etna Green has a clerk-treasurer in Laura Baker, electric and water superintendent in Barry Baker and a sewer and street superintendent in Andrew Cook.
The town also has a part-time deputy clerk treasurer, part-time groundsperson and part-time custodian.
The Bakers are married and Andrew Cook was recently named by Etna precinct committeeman Joe Mooney to serve on the town’s council after Todd Slabaugh resigned.
Starting July 1, employees have to “resign from employment with the unit if the employee assumes an elected executive office of the unit or becomes an elected member of the unit’s legislative or fiscal body.”
This, of course, is not retroactive. Cook is also not the only person in that situation in the county. Pierceton police officer Jim Bumbaugh is on that town’s council.
As of 2011, Barry Baker made $60,670, Cook made $45,665.21 and Laura Baker made $22,458.80.
Barry Baker and Cook also received 3-percent pay raises.
Both Cook and Laura Baker told the Times-Union that was those employees’ first raises in a couple of years.
Laura Baker also noted that with her husband and Cook’s salary, they have certifications including that of linemen.
An average lineman journeyman makes $61,000 a year per labor statistics. That is without certifications in water or sewer.
To compare Etna Green’s salaries to other towns in Kosciusko County wouldn’t be a direct comparison as Etna Green administers its own electric utility.
Etna Green residents pay the town for water, sewer and electric.
Eric Walsh, a manager and certified public accountant from Umbaugh and Associates in Plymouth, said his company assists towns and cities throughout Indiana and Michigan with their budgets.
Those budgets are then audited by the state.
As an average, 20 percent of Etna Green’s utilities budget is in salaries.
“We do work for cities and towns throughout state, in this general area, they are actually a little bit low,” said Walsh of the salaries. “You’re going to see an average upward of 30 percent.”
Walsh also noted that, in general, salaries as a percentage of utilities have gone down in sewer and raised just $50 in water over a three-year span.
Electric saw a 2-percent increase.
Walsh said that Umbaugh will come in and note whether the town or city is spending above budget or if the utility rates can’t support the budget.
Umbaugh doesn’t do audits, and Walsh said that if people are accusing towns of misspending, the state board of accounts will bring that up.
In terms of towns that administer their own electric, Walsh noted that Argos, Avilla, New Carlisle, Winamac and Walkerton are area towns that have their own electric.
Etna Green has Umbaugh do a “budget to actual spending comparison” bi-annually.
Umbaugh will let the town know if its spending can be supported by the town’s utility rates.
One caller to the Times-Union took exception with a comment Cook made on saying he never voted for salary increases in the past when he was on the town council.
Baker served on the town council from 1992 to 2000, then again from 2002 to 2006. He started with the town as an employee in 2006.
In Sept. 9, 1998, the Times-Union reported that the former electric and water superintendent salary went from $21,216 to $26,000.
Baker, who was then wastewater and street superintendent, went from making $22,350 to $28,080.
The new wages took effect Oct. 1 of that year.
Cook was quoted as saying he felt those employees weren’t making enough and that the high rate of turnover was evidence of that.
Over a span of seven years, the town went through four electric and water superintendents.
In an interview Thursday night, Cook said he meant that he’s never voted for a pay raise for himself and wouldn’t.
He said he wouldn’t say yes or no to freezing his or anyone else’s salaries but would do what’s in the best interest of the town.
Laura Baker also noted that every day, even holidays, either Cook or Barry Baker is working.
The state requires water testing seven days a week and wastewater plant testing five days a week.
Cook also encouraged anyone with concerns to come to the town’s board meetings.
“I’d love to see a standing-room-only crowd at the meetings,” said Cook.
The town council meets the second Tuesday of every month at the town hall at 7 p.m.
