Cambridge City council took action on two items to help town laborers get more work done before conducting an executive session on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
Public Works Superintendent Joe Webb received permission to hire Steve Kohne part-time for code enforcement, mowing, leaf pickup and other tasks as needed.
Kohne will work no more than 32 hours per week at $15 per hour. He was to start work Monday, Aug. 25.
Webb recently asked council to let him advertise two part-time positions of 10-20 weekly hours each after water supervisor Chris Stapleton resigned effective July 31.
Also on Aug. 20, Webb received permission to purchase a new truck for town workers. Webb had previously told council that his crew is spending a lot of time repairing and maintaining the town’s aging fleet, which reduces the amount of work they can do in the community.
Webb received two truck quotes for council to review. Community Ford of Bloomington was $5,391.75 less than Wetzel Ford in Richmond.
Money for the truck will come from the town’s Economic Development Income Tax, Motor Vehicle Highway and water funds. It will be paid out of this year’s budget.
Afterward, council conducted an executive session that was closed to the public.
Clerk-Treasurer Sherry Ervin’s announcement of the meeting said its purpose was to discuss negotiations regarding a commercial prospect and/or regarding agents of a commercial prospect, citing Indiana Code 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(4)(I).
Council’s next public meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, at town hall, 127 N. Foote St., Cambridge City. During that meeting, residents will be invited to share comments regarding the town’s proposed 2026 budget.
While preparing the new budget, town leaders were very cautious and kept expenditures as low as possible, but they aren’t expecting any major cuts at this time, said Jim McLane, council president.
A version of this article appeared in the August 27 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.