Town hiring public works superintendent

Cambridge City is beginning a search for a new superintendent of public works.

At its Dec. 30 meeting, council passed the 2025 salary ordinance. Employees will receive a 3% raise, and an incentive for volunteer firefighters was increased.

During discussion, it was noted the superintendent’s position would be open to start the year.

President Jim McLane told WWN that council had decided to find someone different to serve as superintendent going into 2025, and because Ken Risch is a longtime, valued town employee, Risch would return to his previous role as a laborer.

Risch became interim superintendent in summer 2021 after working for the town for nearly 17 years. He was fully appointed a few months later.

Performance venue

McLane shared the town will receive $323,000 through Lilly Endowment Inc. to finish the pavilion, parking area, sidewalk, seating area and other amenities being installed at Creitz Park behind the fire station. The previously unaffordable project alternates will be part of Pridemark Construction’s contract.

Wayne County Foundation successfully applied for a $5 million grant for two projects. The remainder goes to Richmond’s Whitewater Gorge recreation improvements.

In other business

Council approved:

• An ordinance noting Creitz Park will be open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 31-March 1 for pedestrian traffic only. Vehicles can’t enter except for Christmas lights or other approved events.
• Increasing costs to open and close Riverside Cemetery graves. Town attorney Bob Bever will write an ordinance that could take effect immediately after approval at council’s 6 p.m. Jan. 13 meeting. The fee will increase from $300 to $600, with additional charges of $150 after 2 p.m., $200 for Saturdays and $300 for Sundays and holidays. Plots remain $450.  
• Milestone’s $276,287 bid for 2025 paving. A Community Crossings grant covers 75%. It was the lowest of four bids.
• Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission’s quote (no more than $20,000) to administer the $2.8 million grant from U.S. Economic Development Administration for Gateway Industrial Park water infrastructure improvements. Because of staff turnover, Eastern Indiana’s commission currently doesn’t have anyone trained for that work.
• Bonds of $30,000 for Clerk-Treasurer Sherry Ervin and $25,000 for Careen Bogue, utility billing clerk, a 2025-26 capital improvement plan as a requirement for receiving Economic Development Income Tax
• Spent $37,825.90 for fire department radios until a reimbursement grant arrives.
• A resolution noting final American Rescue Plan Act funds go toward binding contracts for the water project and performance venue so no funds will be returned to the federal government. Money previously allocated for park Wi-Fi couldn’t be spent in time, so council elected to replace Ervin and Bogue’s 10-year-old computers.

All decisions were unanimous; councilor Mike Amick was absent.

Future discussion

• Council is considering adding service charges for responding to multiple false fire alarms and possibly building security alarms as well. Attorney Bob Bever recommended council consider a $200 fine for the third false alarm per year with $100 increases for each future incident.

Police Chief Richard Roberts noted they’d received three weather-triggered alerts for one property the previous weekend but must respond for each call. He will contact nearby departments to learn their policies.

“Someone could lose their life going to a false alarm,” said councilor Jim King, noting it’s critical to reduce those calls.