Also, coroner investigating death at campground
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The elected officials for the City of Kokomo are going to get a raise. The Kokomo Common Council convened on Oct. 27 to consider a one percent pay bump for itself, the mayor, and the city clerk. But the measure didn’t pass cleanly.
Councilman Tom Miklik brought the salary ordinance before the council for its second and final reading. The ordinance sets elected official salaries for 2026.
The mayor will be paid $99,042.22. The city clerk will be paid $46,547.95, and each council member will be paid $12,688.43. Council members also will receive $20 for each committee meeting they attend, and a benefits package is made available to all of the city’s elected officials.
The ordinance passed on first reading on Oct. 20 on a unanimous vote, however local resident Joe Russeau took to the microphone during that reading to oppose the increase, as the council had just voted to increase a local income tax by 0.4 percent to help cover construction costs for a new county jail and earlier in October adopted a pair of trash collection fees amounting to $15 per month by 2028.
“Do we think this completely appropriate?” asked Russeau. “Folks, you’re asking us to pay more in taxes, and you guys are raising your salaries for what purpose? What purpose are you raising salaries for yourselves?
“This seems highly hypocritical to me. I’m sorry to say it. It’s highly hypocritical that you think you guys should get an increase when you’re taxing the hell out of us. It’s disgusting.”
No one from the public spoke to the ordinance on its second reading on Oct. 27, but the vote wasn’t unanimous this time. Councilman Jeff Plough (R-5th) opposed the ordinance, but it did pass on a 7-1 vote with Councilman David Capshaw not in attendance.
After the meeting, Plough explained his reasoning for opposing the raises for elected officials.
“I advocated well over a month ago that we not have raises at all in leadership due to the increase in taxes and fees that we’re having proposed,” said Plough. “Honestly, I think it’s a way we can show that we’re supporting the city.”
Another ordinance receiving attention at the meeting was a request to rezone properties along East Jefferson Street. The rezoning of the land to Multi-Family Residential had neighbors concerned about the development.
The ordinance, along with a second measure to vacate an undeveloped stretch of East Monroe Street and an alley located just east of Ohio Street, is designed to make way for the construction of as many as 15 townhomes or duplexes.
Local Realtor Paul Wyman spoke about the proposed project, assuring those in attendance that the development will benefit the neighborhood.
“The reality of the matter is, I don’t think you can get 15 units on this lot,” said Wyman. “I think it’s probably closer to 10 or 11 because of the parking requirements, the landscaping, and all the sorts of things that are required.
“So, when you look at it from that standpoint, it’s not much different than having nine city lots that are there now and building nine homes. It’s pretty much the same. It’s just going to be laid out differently.”
Wyman went on to state that the developer has no intent to build multi-story apartments, which would not be allowed under the proposed zoning. Plough asked Wyman to confirm that the project is not designed to create low-income or Section 8 housing, as a remonstrator raised that concern when the rezoning issue went before the Kokomo Plan Commission.
“There has been absolutely zero discussion about that, zero,” said Wyman.
The rezoning passed unanimously.
The council is next scheduled to meet on Mon., Nov. 10, with an informational meeting at 5:30 p.m. and the council meeting at 6 p.m. Both meetings are open to the public and take place on the first floor of City Hall.
Coroner investigating death at campground
On Friday. Oct. 24, 2025, at approximately 5:44 p.m., the Howard County Coroner was dispatched to Springhill Campground, 623 S. 750 W. Russiaville, Indiana, in reference a decedent that had been found in a camping trailer.
The decedent has been positively identified as Jason Allen Whittaker, a 49-year-old male. His family has been notified. An autopsy was performed on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, by a forensic pathologist at the Howard County Coroner’s Office.
The cause and manner of death are pending autopsy and toxicology results. Foul play is not suspected. This case remains under investigation by the Howard County Sheriff’s Office and the Howard County Coroner’s Office. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Scott Waymire at the Howard County Sheriff’s Office at 765-614-3463.