At the Pierceton Town Council’s year-end meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 28, at the Pierceton Community Building are from left: Council member Matt Brubaker, Town Clerk-Treasurer Myra Mast, Council member Janet Castle and Council member Tom Barker. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

PIERCETON — Pierceton has received its first payment from an opioid settlement.

That settlement was discussed at the Pierceton Town Council’s year-end meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 28. The town received the payment of $5,523.13 this month as part of an agreement reached with Johnson & Johnson, Cardinal Health, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen for their contribution to the national opioid epidemic.

Indiana was one of multiple states to benefit from the $26 billion settlement.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the council approved creating two funds for the settlement funds, one restricted on how the monies can be spent and the other unrestricted.

Salary Ordinance 

The council also approved the town’s salary ordinance for 2023.

Under it, the council president will make $1,700 biannually and council members $1,650 biannually. The clerk-treasurer will receive $1,895 biweekly, and the deputy clerk-treasurer $17.51 hourly.

The town/utilities superintendent will make $28.27 per hour, and other street/utility employees are to make $22.84 an hour, $20.99 an hour and a range of $17 to $24.04 an hour respectively.

The town marshal will make $2,200.01 biweekly and deputy marshals $23.39 and $21.63 hourly respectively. Part time, seasonal and temporary employees will make $7.25 to $22 per hour.

In other business, the council:

• Approved various year-end transfers between budget accounts due to the state completing its annual adjustment of the town’s proposed budget.
• Reorganized for 2023. Matt Brubaker will serve as council president and Janet Castle as vice president.
• Approved having Tammy Keirn serve as town attorney again.

The council’s next regular meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, at the Pierceton Community Building.