In the meeting Tuesday night, there were numerous questions about the dispatch being required to have a landline. Not all cell phones are of a high quality or in the best area for reception, so a dilemma has arisen to the dispatch job. A requirement to the dispatcher to maintain a landline would also require the trustees to chip into the payment of that landline.

There are five dispatchers and the minimum charge for a landline times five would be an added expense for the town. The city already pays for the dispatch number but it has no keyboard for numbers to dial out and very expensive assisted dial out charges. Dispatch operators need dial out service to call care flight, electrical and gas companies. Fire Chief Jerry Donnelly was concerned, “The liability could be huge if we need care flight and the dispatcher is in a dead area!” He suggested the use of the firehouse as the landline that’s already paid for and just sitting there. President Greg Kaffenbarger was concerned for the night time hours and sleeping arrangements and a greater expense for that. Adam Steele asked, “Are we going to set a limit on how many calls? Can we make a landline requirement and then just reimburse a minimal payment?” Kaffenbarger said, “At this point, we are still in limbo…by November we should have more information and make an informed decision.”

Black Cemetery headstones that were vandalized in 08 have been replaced by insurance. After looking at some of the older crumbling ones, it was decided those too should be replaced, so they have been ordered. Alex Turner, Road Superintendent, stated, “We have started the fourth side ditch mowing but are dragging our feet a little bit. I always want to get the weed row after the harvest because it just looks so much better. The school had two turnarounds that needed repair on Studebaker and Detrick Jordon They were widened but the buses still went and in the grass.”

Donnelly announced Tad Speary will be the new chaplain for the department. Joe Keery will be leaving us and moving to North Carolina for a new job. “We have posted for a new EMS Lt. and will take applications until Oct. 11th.

Charles Patterson, Health Commissioner, spoke about the Heath Department Issue 17 up for renewal. “We heard our citizens say they can’t afford any new taxes. So we have been trying very hard to keep cost down. We have got a new phone system that will save a lot of money We have reduced two higher paying positions by offering early retirement and brought in two ground level employees. We are busily writing grants to subsidize all the programs. The 2 million dollars we collect county wide is able to be used in many grants as a base for applying for these various grants. We ask that the trustees and citizens please continue to support these valuable health programs. Please vote for the renewal Issue 17 for Health.”