The Sandoval Village Board has laid off assistant police chief Travis Nix and two part-time officers as the board deals with financial issues caused by an audit still incomplete from 2022 that is keeping the town from being eligible for any grant funding.
Mayor Mike Gelsinger says the village is down to $40,000 in their bank account for all funds.
Police Chief Joe Lyons will now work varying hours while the Marion County Sheriff’s Department will be asked to help answer calls in other hours. Gelsinger says a position open in public works from a resignation is also not being filled until audit issues are resolved and funding levels can be restored.
Gelsinger expects legal action against the former auditor who eventually gave back the village’s financial records so another firm could try and pick up the pieces and finish the incomplete audit for 2022. Once that is done, the new company will complete the 2023, 2024, and 2025 audits that are also unfinished.
Gelsinger says being cut off from grants is also keeping the village from moving forward on needed improvements to its sewage treatment system.
The Sandoval Board has approved a three-year contract with its employees. A three percent pay raise will be given for fiscal year 2026 where no contract was in place. Employees will receive a three percent increase for the current fiscal year and four percent for the fiscal year ending in May 2028.
The votes to layoff the police department and approval the new contract agreement were all by unanimous votes.
