Zellers named town manager

Winamac council members didn’t waste time appointing the new town manager during a regular meeting on Monday.

During the meeting, councilman Richard Denney nominated Brad Zellers as the new town manager. The motion was approved but not without opposition from councilwoman Judy Heater.

Zellers will continue to serve as the wastewater superintendent. He will start the position of town manager immediately.

As part of the motion, Zellers’ salary of $2,077 will be bi-weekly. The new rate will begin with the new pay period on Jan. 19.

Other appointments made by the council include electing a vice president. The council has not elected a vice president in the past, but during the meeting on Jan. 5, council members expressed an interest.

“I think it’s a good idea. If you can’t be here, I think it would be a good idea to have someone to fill in and also have the capability of signing on your behalf,” Denney said to president Ken McFarland.

Councilman Tommy Murray was elected as the vice president. Murray abstained from the vote.

Clerk-treasurer Melanie Berger said John Simmermaker said he would continue as a Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission representative for the town. Council members approved the appointment.

Berger said former town councilman John Plowman will continue on the Winamac Economic Development Commission. His term does not end on the Winamac Economic Development Commission until 2016.

Berger was appointed to the Northwest Indiana Solid Waste District.