FREE But donations accepted. Click above WEDNESDAY, Martin County “Celebrating the rich history of Martin County and the NOVEMBER 4, 2015 people who make it great.” Year 6, Issue 44• Martin County, Indiana • Ten pages www. martJincountyjourOnal.com • [email protected] • Cell: 812N-259-4309 • Fax: 888A-380-2761 • PO BoxL 148 Loogootee IN 47553 -Photo by Jennifer Wagler FTehse atninvual lF eostifv aBl ofa Bnanddss was held Monday at North Knox High School. Several schools participated including Loogootee and Shoals High Schools. Downey wins only contested Future city council members race in Tuesday’s Election question current members There was only one contested race in council district four. BY COURTNEY HUGHETT someone could always find a way to “work” yesterday’s municipal election in the City Loogootee Mayor Noel Harty also ran Martin County Journal Publisher the system, no matter what they are given. of Loogootee. Roger Downey unopposed in both the Primary Council member Richard Taylor made the (D) defeated Marty Tarrh (R) and General Elections. Clerk- Two Loogootee City Council members who motion to increase the accumulated sick leave for the Loogootee City Council Treasurer Nancy Jones de - will take office in January questioned the to 640 hours. At-Large seat, 220 votes to 83. feated her opponent, Gianna council members they are replacing at last Council member Fred Dupps said he strug - Downey will replace current Armstrong, by three votes in Wednesday night’s special meeting. The spe - gles with the large increase. council member at-large Fred the Primary and then ran unop - cial meeting was called to discuss employees’ Council member Rick Norris said the 640 Dupps who he defeated in the posed in yesterday’s election. insurance for next year and accumulated sick is less than what they used to get and less than Primary in May. Of the 1,912 registered vot - time for employees. Incoming council mem - most other municipalities and he seconded the In uncontested races, Carroll ers in the four precincts that bers Roger Downey (who was elected last motion. Rayhill will hold on to his city cast ballots, Perry 1, 2, 3, and night) and Teresa Nolley were present in the Roger Downey, from the audience, ques - council district three seat, Ruth 4, only 16 percent showed up audience. tioned whether Rick Norris should be voting Smith will take the place of Ron ROGER DOWNEY to vote, or 308 voters. There Council member Rick Norris, who serves on a matter that directly affects him since he Gilbert in district two, and Tim “Biggin” were a total of 62 straight party ballots as a city police officer and leaves office in Jan - is an employee of the city. Norris replied that Lawrence will replace Rick Norris for city cast, 49 Democrat and 13 Republican. uary, brought forth information on the in - it doesn’t affect him as an individual, it affects crease in insurance premiums starting January all the city employees. 1. He told the council that with no changes to Downey added that Carroll Rayhill was also City of Loogootee TOTALS the current policy, there will be a 16 percent voting and one of his children is an employee Mayor increase in premiums or an extra $30,000. He of the city. He said he was curious as to why said a lesser plan would actually be more ex - Council Member Ron Gilbert was not present Clerk-Treasurer pensive to the city because it would require an at the meeting or why he wasn’t informed of increase in health saving account payments to the meeting because he is the only other coun - City Council District 1 employees. cil member, besides Fred Dupps, that doesn’t City Council District 2 The council voted to stick with the current have a relative working for the city. policy underwritten by Signa with the 16 per - Downey said he is not saying the city em - City Council District 3 cent increase. Council member Fred Dupps ployees don’t deserve what is being recom - noted that the city employees have an excel - mended, he just wonders why the council is City Council District 4 lent benefit package that is very rare anywhere voting on it now, when four members are else. going to be leaving office at the end of the City Council At-Large Council member Rick Norris also recom - year and four new people are coming in. He mended changing the amount of sick days an said he’s not the only person asking this ques - employee can accumulate before they have to tion, as there are several residents who are cu - use them or lose them. Right now, once an rious as well. Veterans ParadePerry t o1 bPerrye 2hePerryld 3 SPerryat 4urday employee reaches 240 hours of accumulated Council member Rayhill said he just feels On Saturday, November 7, the Auxiliary other service organizations, will have Color sick leave, they have to use any future sick that if a police officer is injured, they should of tNhoele S D.ho Hartyals A m(D)erican Legion Post 61 will 7G4uards pa7r1ticipatin2g7. Every3o9ne is e2n11cour - leave or they lose it. Employees receive 48 have ample time to get healed and get back to hours a year. He said this promotes absen - work, without worrying about not having in - be Nancyhosti n(McAtee)g a Ve Jonesteran s(D) Appreciation and 69aged to w54ear red, 26white an39d blue,188 and to Recognition Parade in Shoals. All veterans carry a flag as a sign of support and appre - teeism. He said that in the past, before the new come coming in. of Teresaall ge nM.e rNolleyations (D) and wars are welcome 73ciation. 66 26 38 203 handbook, employees could have 952 days of Teresa Nolley, who was in the audience and and encouraged to participate in this parade, Anyone can put an entry in the parade, accumulated sick leave but once they leave will also take one of the council seats in Jan - andRuth to s Smithtop b y(D) the Shoals Legion afterward 65simply by62 either no25tifying th39e conta191ct per - employment, through retirement or quitting, uary, noted that there is really no amount of for a reception. In case of extreme in - son, or simply by showing up at the assem - what they haven’t used is gone. money that can compensate a police officer cleCarrollment wRayhilleathe (D)r, the parade will be can - 78bly area. P67lease mak26e the the40me of th211e entry Norris recommended increasing the sick for what they sacrifice every day. She said she celled, but the reception will still be held. patriotic in style and color. Cars, trucks, leave accumulation from 240 hours to 640 agrees with Downey though that it seems like TTimhe p"Biggin"arade w Lawrenceill start a(D)t the Shoals Chris - 66SUVs, go61lf carts, tr23actors, e38tc. are a188ll wel - hours, which would be four months of paid a lot of things are getting pushed through in a tian Church on Main Street at 2 p.m. Every - come to participate, as well as anyone who time off. He said this would benefit an em - short amount of time to benefit city employ - oneRoger wh Downeyo wou (D)ld like to show their 77wants to w70alk the p25arade rou48te. 220 ployee who is off due to a sickness or injury ees. She said she doesn’t understand why appMartyrecia Tarrhtion t o(R) local veterans are encour - 29Points o23f contac11t for the20 activiti83es are that can’t come back to work right away. Gilbert was not present at the meeting and aged to line Main Street from the church to Norma Baker at 812-388-6641 and Theresa The council and members of the audience why a special meeting was called in the first the post office. All local veterans are en - Fuhrman at 812-631-1044. Please contact discussed ways employees might “work” the place. couraged to attend and walk or ride in the these Auxiliary members for any questions system to manage to use days prior to leaving Council member Norris replied that the in - parade, and the Loogootee Post, as well as or suggestions. employment permanently. Norris noted that (See ‘COUNCIL’ continued on page 2) Page 2 MARTIN COUNTY JOURNAL Wednesday, November 4, 2015 Commissioners CO(CoUntinuNed frCom pIagLe one) surance probably could have waited until the hire highway November meeting. He said the insurance agent was supposed to be in attendance for the employees meeting but he had a prior commitment. The Martin County Commissioners met “Just seems like we are pushing a lot of in - Tuesday, October 27. creases through here all of the sudden,” said Kathy Collins, Community Corrections Nolley. Director, came before the commissioners for Mayor Harty wanted it noted that the sick approval of an assignment on a previously leave does not affect elected officials so he signed contract. The case management soft - was not trying to push through anything to ware is currently contracted with Paperless benefit himself. Business Solutions. Paperless Business So - The council discussed tabling the issue of lutions has merged with Corisoft. In order to changing the accumulated sick leave until the continue with the case management software November meeting when Gilbert can be pres - the county must sign a new agreement with ent to vote. They also then discussed another Corisoft. Commissioner Gregory made a recommendation from Norris on changing motion to approve the assignment from Pa - how new employees receive vacation time. perless Business Solutions to Corisoft. Com - Right now, they have to work 12 months to missioner Boyd made the second.