Police chief seeking to retire/rehire

ST. HENRY - Village council members on Monday accepted police chief Bob Garman's retirement after 24 years of service and gave first reading of an ordinance giving employees an average 3 percent pay raise.

Garman's resignation is effective Dec. 31. At 54 years old, he said it's time to retire, although he hopes to be rehired as a patrolman.

"I will have time on my hands, and I enjoy it," he said.

"It has been a true honor to have held this position and to have served for such a great community," he wrote in his resignation letter.

"It has been a great community to work for," he told the newspaper. "I've been able to work with community members who help get things accomplished."

Garman started working for the department in 1994 as a patrolman. Four years later, he was promoted to chief.

He said his time on the force was improved by great co-workers over the years.

Mayor Steve Koesters said Garman "has given us some great years of service."

Village solicitor Richard Delzeith said, according to the employee handbook, "we have to go internally first and seek outside if needed," when searching for Garman's replacement

Garman returned to his position in January after having undergone surgery last November. While recovering, Mike Link was promoted from patrolman to assistant chief and performed Garman's duties. Link told the newspaper he is interested in becoming chief.

Council members also gave first reading of an ordinance setting pay for salary and hourly employees. If the ordinance is approved after three readings, salaries for 2019 would include a one-time payment of $5,291 for Koesters, and annual salaries of $53,625 for village fiscal officer/tax administrator Ruth Miller, $69,681 for village administrator Ron Gelhaus, $56,457 for public works superintendent Bob Borgerding and $54,995 for public utilities superintendent Stan Sutter. The new police chief would be paid $61,061 per year.

Among hourly employees, utility clerk Tammy Hoying will be paid $16.92 per hour; all first-year seasonal public works employees, excluding park employees, will make $9.32 per hour their first year and $10.60 per hour after that; and first-year maintenance employees will earn $10.34 per hour their first year and $12.34 after that.

Council members gave first reading of an ordinance to reappoint Delzeith as solicitor at a rate of $927 per month. First reading also was given for a resolution authorizing temporary appropriations to cover any 2019 expenses until the final budget is approved.

Gelhaus said the last branch pickup this year will be on Monday, and the service will resume in the spring. The leaf vacuum has been repaired. The radiator blade had broken, damaging the radiator and causing the device to break down earlier this month. Leaf pickup will resume for another two weeks or so, he added.

"Most of the leaves that are gonna drop have dropped," he said. "It's just a matter of folks getting them out to the street and getting them sucked up," he said.

Councilors met in executive session to discuss hiring personnel. Koesters said he anticipated no action after the session.