been broken since at least May. Prince said the log wouldn’t necessarily show when the sweeper had been cleaned. Bell Equipment has estimated the cost to repair the sweeper, which is rusted, at more than $9,000. Prince has said the sweeper was cleaned every time it was used and that he didn’t notice the rust because it was painted over. DPW employee Kevin Booms, who was on sick leave for several months, disputed Prince, saying that when he returned to work, the street sweeper had mud in it and sprouts growing out of it. What to do about the sweeper is one of many decisions the new council will make.
From the old council, only Kay Green, Harold Batten, and newly re-elected Mary Kassuba will return. One thing the council will not have to worry about is how to pay for a new asphalt pot they purchased for Jerry Sherman, a village resident, after the DPW borrowed his and it was allegedly returned broken. Village Manager Ed Coy says that the village’s insurance will cover entirely the asphalt pot, which was charged to the village credit card at a cost of $3,550.
The old pot, however, remains at issue. Coy said the village would like the broken pot back since they paid for a new one, but said Sherman’s attorney has advised his client against returning it.
‘We are providing all the information regarding the entire situation to our insurance company so they can pursue getting back the old pot,? said Coy. At the Sept. 10 meeting, Green suggested a solution to the DPW troubles. ‘If he (Bill Prince) is not doing his job, he needs to go,? she said.
‘He’s wrecked every single thing he’s picked up.?
Green did get unanimous approval from the council for a new credit card policy that only allows DPW employees to use the village credit card for purchases under $100. Anything between $100-$200 must be approved first by the village manager, and anything over $200 must be approved by the council.