Conley appointed to council

CAREY — The Carey village council appointed resident Bill Conley to fill a recently vacated council seat at its regular meeting Monday. The seat was previously held by Ted Reinhart, who resigned at a February meeting due to a recent move outside village limits. Four residents asked to be considered for the seat including Brent Bleam who has recently filed a petition for the four council seats that will be opening later this year. Bleam was nominated by a council member but Conley won the majority vote. Also at the meeting council discussed the need for an oversight committee after previous accusations of council overstepping their roles and micromanaging employees. The accusations were investigated by consulting firm Clemans Nelson with the official report finding evidence of overstepping by both Vady Hernandez and Chad Kin. Council president and mayoral candidate Tyler Bame advised that the new committee would do everything Clemans Nelson did and more. "This committee would only be active when voted on," Bame said. Also saying the committee would consist of three to five members with fluid operation as Bame made it very clear that there could be no conflict of interest. The committee would oversee future accusations of misconduct, large expenditures to help re-establish dwindling public trust in local government, according to Bame. At a previous meeting, Bame said that an ideal world would mean the committee would never meet, but if formed, it would be available when needed. Council voted to bring legislation forward to be voted on for the formation of the committee as well as legislation to separate the finance and audit committee into two committees. Later, council continued its ongoing discussion of upping the price of funerals and services at Spring Grove Cemetery. Village administrator Mike Roszman reported he had spoken with a representative of Crawford Township who said the township trustees did not want to be responsible for the cemetery and didn't want ownership of the property. Roszman also said some cemetery services prices had not been raised in 16 years. To account for inflation and rising costs, council voted to hear legislation to raise prices by 83% in order to break even and not lose more money that it was investing. According to Bame, this raise would mean plots were still cheaper than those of the neighboring St. Mary's cemetery. It's a nice cemetery, Bame said. "We want to make sure it remains a nice cemetery." Council members also heard from Carey police chief Jeff Conley who said previous Chief Ryan Doe had purchased a new police cruiser but Conley believed the money could be spent elsewhere and he would not be taking possession of the cruiser. Council then voted to pay out holiday pay to police department staff who, according to policy, would need to use the paid time off before the end of the month but may not get the chance due to understaffing. Council then heard the second reading of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract for the purchase of a rescue pumper and the third reading of an ordinance setting permanent appropriations for expenses during fiscal year 2025. Council adjourned to executive session to discuss the purchase of property. No action was taken. The next council meeting is at 7 p.m. March 17 at the village fire department in Carey.