The cost of new fire engines has increased rapidly, making each purchase at least a million-dollar endeavor. With a couple of years before another new engine is needed, Richmond Fire Department Chief Jeff Kinder approached Richmond Common Council with an ordinance that would create a nonreverting fund where RFD could save money for future engine purchases.
Council met Nov. 2 as its Committee of the Whole to gather more information about Kinder’s plans and approved the fund 6-2 during its regular meeting.
RFD plans to move money each year from its EMS fund to the new fund, saving for million-dollar engine replacements. The ordinance limits expenditures to firefighting apparatus, personal protective equipment, communication hardware, fire stations, training facilities and debt service.
Council member Jerry Purcell opposed creating the new fund, saying it duplicated the purpose of the existing EMS fund. Kinder said he could not find an ordinance that established spending requirements for the EMS fund after working with the law department, meaning an ordinance would likely be needed anyway.
A motion to again hold the ordinance, which was originally presented Oct. 5, failed with a 4-4 vote, then the fund was approved with Purcell and Jane Bumbalough opposing.
Litter and weeds
Renewing themes he has visited before, Howard Price spoke to council about litter and weeds.
Price thanked participants in organized litter cleanups and encouraged others to clean the city. He suggested the city hire someone to clean up trash along the East Main Street corridor.
Price also said the city likely violates its own weed ordinance with tall weeds growing between streets and sidewalks. Mayor Ron Oler said the city spent $60,000 on weed abatement in 2025 because a licensed applicator is required to spray along Indiana Department of Transportation-controlled roadways. Oler said the money was removed from the budget for this year and is not in next year’s budget, either; however, the city is working with the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce for local businesses to fund the abatement.
Reducing litter and weeds could attract new residents to the city, Price said.
Other issues
- An appropriation ordinance for $271,000 was referred to council’s finance committee. According to Controller Tracy McGinnis, the money is needed to help cover a $420,000 bill for property and liability insurance, which was underfunded in the budget.
- Council referred an ordinance requesting wage increases for the clerk and deputy clerk for 2027 to the finance committee. The salary ordinance council passed when approving the 2027 budget included a 3% raise for the clerk to $59,815.21, but the new request is for a 36% increase to $78,884.52. The request also would increase the deputy’s salary from low in the approved scale of $43,140 to $51,769 to the top amount.
- A resolution amending the budget by appropriating $137,256.44 from council’s unobligated fund was referred to finance committee. The requests include $58,133.65 for Richmond Fire Department, $45,133.02 for the board of public works and safety, $13,508 for the law department, $6,930 for the infrastructure and development department, $5,493 for the mayor’s office, $5,000 for information technology, and $3,062.07 for Richmond Police Department.
A version of this article appeared in the November 11 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
