Markleville residents upset over lack of local police protection
MARKLEVILLE, Ind. (WISH) – Markleville residents expressed frustration at Monday’s town council meeting lack of action.
24-Hour News 8’s news partner The Herald Bulletin reports that during a Dec. 29 meeting, the Markleville town council voted to remove town marshal Sam Weist from his position starting Jan. 1. The Madison County sheriff’s department has been serving all of Markleville’s law enforcement needs in the past couple of weeks.
Some 50 local residents were present at Monday’s town council meeting to express their displeasure and seek answers for why Weist was laid off.
Council President Landis Harper, Bob Fesler and Mike Ernst refused to answer questions regarding the issue, stating that they were prohibited by state law from discussing personnel issues.
When asked if Weist ever received any negative reviews or feedback for his performance as marshal, Fesler stated that he’d gotten both negative and positive feedback during this tenure.
“I don’t feel safe in my house,” Marcia Gross, a resident, said. “I want my son to be safe in this town. That’s the reason we live in a small town.”
The council has stated that they are advertising for the position of town marshal and have already received interest.
The next council meeting is Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. The council plans on having a new town marshal by Feb. 12.