SILVER LAKE - Employees in Silver Lake will see an increase in their pay in 2010.
Monday night at its final meeting of 2009, the Silver Lake Town Council approved a salary ordinance that gives a 2-percent raise to all town employees in 2010. The board, however, did not raise their own pay in the ordinance.Council members said they think the town employees are doing an excellent job, but the town cannot afford to increase salaries more than 2 percent.
"The way things are, I would say 2 percent is the maximum," said council member Ronald Jones.
"I think everyone is doing a good job, and you guys all have families, too," said Gale Owens, council president.
"I think (2 percent) is all we can do," said council member and 2010 board president Linda Baker.
The motion for the increase passed unanimously.
In other business, the council:
n Heard the Silver Lake Police Department received high marks during a visit from Indiana State Academy attorney Charles Braun. Braun told Town Marshal Craig Hollopeter that the department is running the way he likes to see it run.
Braun also is working on the town's police standard operating procedures. The procedures should be ready in January and will be presented to the council when they are ready.
n Heard the town is using a 50/50 salt-sand mixture on the roads this year, and it is working well. The mixture is cleaner than using only sand, and it melts ice and snow faster than sand only. However, the salt purchased earlier this year is nearly gone. The council gave permission to buy another load of salt to use on the roads.
n Approved a motion to extend the town's liability insurance coverage with Hall and Marose agency. The premiums for 2010 coverage are very similar to those of 2009.
n Named Baker the council president for 2010.
n Expressed their sympathies to the families of Mary "Toots" Stanley, wife of former council member Stanley Williams, and Lloyd Moore, a former town board member.
Silver Lake Town Council members are Jones, Owens and Baker. Town clerk is Angie Glass.
