North Judson Town Council Approves Health Insurance Plan for Town Employees

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

North Judson Town Council continued their discussion over town employee health insurance when they met last Monday.

Councilman John Rowe noted that he did find an error while reviewing the figures where the current plan was said to cost $3,674 per month. He said he thought the Town’s monthly charge was more than that. Clerk-Treasurer Andrew Rowe confirmed that the current plan is actually $4,128 per month.

Councilman Rowe went on to provide his recommendation for the health insurance plan. The plan he chose was alternate three from Anthem. He mentioned that it has a $3,921 monthly charge associated with it. We also consulted Life Cover Quotes experts to find the best life insurance plans. Continue reading →

NJ Town Council Members to Discuss Cemetery Mowing Ad and Amended Salary Ordinance Tonight

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

North Judson Town Council members will discuss the cemetery mowing advertisement when they meeting tonight.

Members will also hold the second reading over an amended salary ordinance. At the final meeting in February, members held the first reading over a salary ordinance that would not include a 3 percent raise for the town council members.

At the beginning of the year, members signed off on a salary ordinance that essentially gave a 3 percent raise across the board. However, Town Attorney Justin Schramm explained that since the salary ordinance was approved in January of 2018, the members couldn’t approve a raise for themselves since it wouldn’t look good to the State Board of Accounts to approve a raise in the same year it is given. Continue reading →

Amended Salary Ordinance Fails to Pass on First Reading at NJ Town Council Meeting

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

An ordinance amending the approved 2018 salary ordinance was considered on first reading during Monday night’s North Judson Town Council meeting.

When the town council members passed the salary ordinance back in January, it included a 3 percent raise across the board, except for Town Marshal Kelly Fisher who forfeited her raise to supplement the raises of her officers.

In the initial ordinance, town council members were included in the individuals who would receive the raise. However, Town Attorney Justin Schramm said that due to when the ordinance was passed, that raise could potentially be seen as questionable by state officials. Continue reading →

North Judson Town Council Discusses Umbaugh Contract and Change to the Town’s Point of Contact

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The North Judson Town Council members renewed the town’s contract with Umbaugh and Associates when they met Monday evening.

Council President Wendy Hoppe mentioned that Umbaugh really helped save the town money last year. The council members noted that the contract appeared to be identical to last years and Town Attorney Justin Schramm said he felt comfortable moving forward with it.

The contract secures Umbaugh for consulting services related to the 2019 Budget and any other financial matters. There’s a $7,000 maximum for budget consultation, but if all the time is not used then the town will not be charged the full amount.

Though no changes were made to the agreement itself, Clerk-Treasurer Andrew Rowe mentioned that there has been a switch in who serves as the town’s point of contact. Continue reading →

North Judson Town Attorney Presents Council Members with Railroad Bylaws

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Railroad Committee bylaws were up for discussion during Monday night’s North Judson Town Council meeting. Town Attorney Justin Schramm informed members that he received the bylaws from Rachel Arndt, the town’s former attorney.

He told the council that part of the bylaws indicates that the committee would be comprised of at least four members. It would consist of one town council member, a representative from Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum and representatives from Chesapeake and Indian Railroad and Co-Alliance. He mentioned that any freight carrier who hauls more than 20 percent of product on the railway would be able to appoint a member as well. Continue reading →