Council approved new officer, new firefighters

Winamac Town Council members took care of a few human resource issues during a regular meeting on March 9.

During the meeting, the council approved hiring of a new police officer and three new firefighters, plus discussed hiring summer help.

Police chief Mike Buchanan said those officers who were a part of the interview process unanimously decided to make Matt Pickens their recommendation to hire.

Pickens is currently a Pulaski County Sheriff’s Deputy and recently completed 40 hours of basic training. Before he was a deputy for the sheriff’s department he was a jailer.

Buchanan said Pickens has not attended the police academy but will begin in July.

“We feel that in that amount of time, Matt will be able to pick up on everything — the way we work, the paperwork. He will be fully trained so when he goes to the academy, he can go right on the road,” Buchanan said.

Pickens lives in Royal Center and moving to the area is not out of the question, according to him.

Fire chief Bill Weaver said the department interviewed four individuals for fireman positions. Three of those individuals, Cory Wank, Pam Ricks and Lee Neva were approved by the membership. Wank and Ricks are trained firefighters and first responders. Weaver said Neva will need training.

“This will put us up to 19 and our full roster is 23,” Weaver said.

The three firefighters were approved.

Council members also approved the fire protection contract with the Winamac Volunteer Fire Department. A contract for fire protection services from Franklin Township was also received.

Along with the new officer and firefighters, it was announced that park manager Rick Dilts is looking to retire in January of 2016. Town manager Brad Zellers questioned if the council would approve hiring a part-time person with the hopes of he or she becoming full-time when Dilts retires.

“I would hate to get into next summer and we hire somebody for that position and it just doesn’t work out,” Zellers said. “It would be nice if Rick could train somebody and get them going.”

Zellers said he thinks the funds are available to hire someone.

A suggestion was made that Zellers review the current applications he has and see if someone might be interested. There is also a position open at the wastewater department.

In other business:

• Minutes from the Feb. 9 meeting were approved.

• Claims were approved.

• Three bids for a new bucket truck were presented to the council. Heater suggested that Zellers and electric department superintendent Doug Shorter review the bids and use the lowest bid to purchase the truck if it meets all the specifications.

• A contract with Dan Vanaman for the mowing of the cemetery and Decker Drive was approved with Dan Vanaman abstaining from the vote.

• Town council president Ken McFarland volunteered to be the fifth member of the wellhead project.

• A section of ground in the park will be fenced in for a dog park after the council approved for funding a portion of it. The area is 150 feet by 100 feet. Fencing for the area will be about $5,510. The council approved $4,060 to pay for the fence, while the 4-H dog program will pay for the labor. Councilman Richard Denney made a pledge of $260 toward the project.

• A request by Angie Anspach to use the town parking lot for Germanfest on Aug. 8 was approved.

• Water and street superintendent Jeremy Beckner asked permission to attend the Indiana Rural Water Association meeting with Brett Beach. Council approved the request.