Last Updated on September 3, 2019 by cassnetwork
Eel Township Trustee Mark Strong will be resuming his duties as a Logansport firefighter after city and state officials have determined that his dual roles can be performed without violating state law.
The Logansport Board of Public Works and Safety reinstated him Wednesday. He had been placed on leave in December after the board received conflicting opinions on his eligibility to serve.
“We’re glad to have Mark back on the department and it’s good to finally put this behind us,” Mayor Dave Kitchell said today. “It’s unfortunate that the state does not have an easier way of resolving these questions of eligibility, and hopefully the Indiana General Assembly will resolve this and other problems that get in the way of public servants and public employees serving in their capacities.”
It marks the second time in less than four years that the city has faced eligibility issues with conflicting interpretations of state law. Councilman Scott Peattie was elected in 2015 and was initially told he could continue to work with the Logansport Municipal Utilities. After he was elected, he was told he would have to choose between the council and his job, but could not hold both positions simultaneously. He continued to work with LMU until he retired at the end of 2017. Joe Ness was chosen by Democratic precinct committee to temporarily serve in the 4th Ward seat until Peattie retired.
“There has to be a better way of not only providing accurate information on eligibility, but policing this at the state level,” Kitchell said. “This has been expensive not only for the city and Mark, but time consuming. The system hasn’t worked and there is room for improvement.”
Strong has been compensated by the city for his lost wages. The conflict stemmed from a portion of state law that indicated he could not serve if LFD served Eel Township, but since there is no financial contract between the township and the city, state officials agreed he could serve in both capacities.
SOURCE: News release from Logansport Mayor Dave Kitchell