By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com

The third quarter tax revenues were presented and the year to date for 2015 is slightly behind the year to date for 2014.

At this time last year the village had collected $311,254, and so far this year the village has collected $281,611. Last year the total collection was $322,203. Pattie Krebs, who oversees tax collection for the village, attributed that number to a healthy spike in business tax revenue. This partly explains why revenue is down for this year, but the goal is still $300,000 for the year.

Jerri Lucius presented new insurance plans for the upcoming year. Staying with the same plan would see a price increase of 17 percent, and it was quickly decided that that was an unacceptable hike. The plan they settled on actually will decrease rates for the village, as the employees affected by the plan were interested in lower premiums, but with a commensurately higher deductible.

Police Chief Jeff Shook asked for permission to appoint an auxiliary officer. In this setup, such an officer would need to work at least eight hours per month, and would not be permitted to work except with another officer. There would be no salary or wages for this position. What the person fulfilling this duty gains is keeping his or her certifications current and receive training courtesy of the New Washington Police Department.

Anyone who goes a year without training will see certification lapse, and the training courses necessary to keep this current, or to revive in case of it lapsing, can be quite expensive. Shook also liked the idea of having someone in this position should someone leave the staff and a hire need to be made in short order. The only expense to the village would be background check and psych evaluation.

Officer Schick, a member of the permanent part-time staff, has also completed his six-month probationary period, and will be appointed to his post on an ongoing basis pending a renewal of his physical. Shook also asked council to consider a stipend for part-time employees who work holiday hours. He asked for the ability to pay them time and a half for those shifts. Council agreed to consider the request in Finance Committee.

In personnel recommendations, a raise of $2 per hour to $17.64 was approved for new Street Department head Roger Wechter. Council also set a time to interview the five applicants for the new part-time street department assistant position. Interviews will be held No. 12.