Shull resigns as Salem City Clerk

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

SALEM ? Unfortunately, it?s becoming ?old hat? for the Salem City Council.

The council learned during last night?s regular meeting that it would be searching for its sixth city clerk in the past five years.

Laci Shull, who has been clerk for just over a year, announced her resignation effective Nov. 27. Shull has accepted employment elsewhere. She has offered to help train the new clerk.

The council and citizens attending the meeting expressed regret over Shull?s resignation. ?Thank you for everything you?ve done, and I wish you would reconsider,? said Councilman Bill Wixom, Jr.

?You have done a very good job for Salem and I am sorry to see you go,? added Linda Kramer, a Salem resident.

Council members set an application deadline of Wednesday, Nov. 18, for the position and hope to conduct interviews on Nov. 19. Applications for the position may be picked up at the Salem Community Building.

In other business, the council approved paying off a loan to USDA for the water plant loan. Shull told the council that the city has a water debt account in the city budget and there are enough funds in the account to pay off the $19,030.56 loan. Shull said $1,500 monthly is deposited in the water debt account and payment of the loan would still leave a balance of $968.30.

With the Christmas season quickly approaching, the council discussed when Christmas lights should be erected and turned on. Dick Myers, city public works and maintenance director, said that if the lights are erected too early, kids in town damage them.

?I?ve had a lot of people call and want the lights (turned) on Thanksgiving night,? said Mayor Dan Patterson.

Councilman Jeremy Hunold strongly opposed having the lights shining that early. ?I don?t believe they need to be on during Thanksgiving. That is disrespecting Thanksgiving.?

Myers said he did not know when he could have the lights up. ?Why put them up three weeks early and then have to fight the kids??

?You could work on them a little bit at a time,? Hunold stated. Hunold also suggested getting some community volunteers to help erect the lights.

Following more discussion, it was decided to have the lights up and turned on by the next council meeting, which is Tuesday, Dec. 1.

Health insurance premiums are increasing, Shull told the council. Myers is the only employee on the city health insurance plan, and his premium will be increasing $222.70 a month, beginning in January.

Councilman Chuck Kramer suggested looking at a larger co-pay. ?I would go 70/30 (co-pay) instead of 80/20,? he said.

Patterson said the city would do some checking and have a report at the next council meeting.

Another monetary matter had the council setting the rate to charge Shipley Construction and Henry County for city water used during the W55/Franklin Avenue construction project this past summer. Shipley used 37,000 gallons of water and Henry County?s secondary roads department used 3,000 gallons. The city will charge each entity $0.007 cents per gallon.

Kelly Patterson, director the Salem Crew Public Library, told the council Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the library on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 10-11 a.m. The council agreed to contribute $300 for treats for the youngsters during Santa?s visit.

Patterson also reported that there were 85 youngsters in the library?s Halloween parade Oct. 31, and 158 hot dogs were served afterward in the park.

Council members meet again in regular session on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 5:30 p.m., at the Salem Community Building.