From left are Jay Rigdon, Todd Slabaugh, Keith Claassen, Kevin Smith Jr. and Laura Baker.

ETNA GREEN — Etna Green council discussed a three percent pay increase for next term’s council.

The salary ordinance will be brought forward at December’s meeting to be approved; clerk-treasurer Laura Baker wanted direction from the council in the writing of the ordinance.

Council member Kevin Smith Jr. inquired about writing pay raises into future budgets. Attorney Jay Rigdon informed the council that these changes can only be made one term in advance and cannot go into effect during a councilman’s elected term.

Rigdon advised the council to look in to county wide pay averages for council members. “It is difficult, at any stage in the game, to get anybody to do the job. You do a lot of work for very little money,” Rigdon stated. “So it might make sense to say…are we compensating all of our elected officials at an appropriate rate?”

In other business:

• $117,993.84 approved in accounts payable vouchers.
• A couple weeks ago, Interra employees cleaned up the Remembrance Park.
• Todd Hoffer reported that lettering has been completed on the Lions Club building door.
• Fire Chief Randall Byrer brought forward concerns of malfunctioning and broken lights around the fire building.