By Angel Perkins Staff Writer
BOURBON — A decision was made this week in regard to filling a new position created by the town.
The resignation of Ellen Elliott from the position of code enforcement and zoning officer (which was effective as of April 25) was approved at the regular May town council meeting, and after the council projected to combine Elliott’s responsibilities with those regarding town groundskeeping to be more “practical and efficient” at the April meeting.

The combined-duty position would pay $700 a month and several applications had been taken. Each town council member selected their top two choices, discussed them at an executive meeting and held interviews with three of them.  
At the following evening’s public town council meeting, council members ruled on who they thought would be the best choice. Council member Gary Collins’ final choice was applicant Terry Clemens. “He’s a little bit more ‘P.R.’d’ (experienced in public relations),” Collins said in comparison to the other applicants. “I feel he’d do a good job for us.”
While Clemens was said to be one of the two favorites of councilman Tim Perkins, he recommended applicant Bill Keyser for the position.
“They are both excellent candidates,” he said. “But Bill has more experience with the little league (grounds).”
Keyser was coach of the town’s traveling league for several years and for his efforts to the local park, had one of the community ball fields named after him. Council president Larry Wattenbarger agreed with Perkins’ recommendation to Collins’ dissent.
“I think both of them would bring good things to the town and agree that Terry would be a willing learner,” Watten-barger stated. “And I agree he would be good for P.R. but I have to look at availability too.”
Clemens is the owner and director of Deaton-Clemens Funeral Home. Perkins suggested that since the position was a new one and as of yet, not clearly defined, he would like the job to be on a probationary basis and the person hired to be reviewed on performance at the end of the year.
The votes were counted with two for and one against the suggestion to hire Keyser. It was also noted earlier on at the regular, monthly town council meeting that Keyser, as town-appointed liaison with the Marshall County Economic Development Commission (after previous liaison Larry Lemler had stepped down), would be expected to provide updates on the committee’s meetings and the progress of the promotion of the town.