Huntingdon Adjusts Municipal Travel Pay, Doubles Accident Report Fees

The Huntingdon Town Council met Tuesday with a moderate agenda primarily pertaining to municipal finances and partnerships.

All council members were present at the September meeting.

The first item of business pertained to Town of Huntingdon employees’ pay on official travel. The council approved for the town’s mileage rate to increase from $0.51 per even mile to $0.70 per even mile, following the current IRS rate. Additionally, town employees’ per-diem rate increased more than double, allowing $56 for daily food expenses as opposed to $26.

Next, the council approved the following reappointments to the Huntingdon Industrial Development Board: Jonathan Kee, Barry Murphy and Joe Smothers with terms expiring August 4, 2030; and Nick Priddy, with term expiring August 4, 2031.

Then, with little discussion, the board voted unanimously to approve the Huntingdon Police Department’s request to increase the fee amount for providing accident reports from $4 to $10.

Huntingdon Fire Chief John Fordon and Carroll County Fire Chief Jonathon Gaskins then introduced a memorandum of understanding between the town and county fire departments. The memorandum would establish an automatic aid agreement between the two departments in the event of an incident in or within five mines of Huntingdon town limits, effective after approval.

The request prompted a 25-minute deliberation, led primarily by councilperson Chad Barnhart, discussing the need for formal collaboration. The council briefly considered tabling the request until next month’s meeting but continued discussion.

Ultimately, Barnhart made a motion to approve the memorandum of understanding, and councilperson Lori Dillahunty seconded. In a roll call vote, the board unanimously granted the fire departments’ request.

In the last order of business, the Huntingdon Town Council approved Jesse Turner’s request to use Huntingdon’s Sesquicentennial Park for “Spookfest.” Presented by the Town of Huntingdon, the Carroll County Prevention Center, the Carl Perkins Center and the Nolan & Courtney Turner Memorial Fund, Huntingdon’s inaugural Spookfest event is October 14. The community event features an outdoor movie, trunk-or-treating, games and vendors at the Kelley Sports Complex.

The next Huntingdon Town Council meeting is October 28 at 5:15 p.m.