TERRE HAUTE —
An appeal from Vigo County Coroner Susan Amos to increase her salary to match that of several other county office holders was unanimously denied Tuesday by the Vigo County Council.
Amos sought to have her salary raised to $47,858 from $31,905. The higher salary would have matched that of the county assessor, auditor, clerk, recorder, surveyor and treasurer. Under state law, in a year in which a newly elected official takes office, that official can ask the County Council for a change in salary. The change must be approved by the council.
A council committee last month stated the County Council looked at salaries of coroners in other similar-sized counties, based on figures from the Association of Indiana Counties, to reach a base coroner salary of $21,270 for Vigo County this year. By state law, a physician who is elected coroner must be paid one and a half times that base amount, which is the $31,905 the council set for the coroner’s salary.
Amos told the council Tuesday that the average salary of coroners in the state is $41,875, according to the Indiana Coroners Association. “There is only one other physician coroner in the state and that is actually a dentist in Allen County and he is making $68,727,” Amos told the council.
Amos said a nonphysican coroner in Vanderburgh County, which is larger than Vigo County, is making $64,664.
“I feel like [former county coroner] Dr. [Roland] Kohr was paid a straight salary, there was no mention in his salary that he would receive a stipend for doing autopsies, so physician salary was already established to be on par with these other elected officials,” Amos said.
Amos said the state’s supreme court has stated that physicians, regardless of specialty, are qualified for a physician salary. “Therefore, the only difference I see between Dr. Kohr and myself is that I am female, and I feel that this is very discriminatory,” Amos said.
Councilman Mike Morris said when Kohr was coroner, he was performing autopsies for the county. Now, the county has to pay to have those autopsies performed, he said.
“It was my understanding when we worked with him, when I was on the council before, that was part of his salary. He mentioned it more than once. He mentioned it every time he came before a budget committee,” Morris said.
Amos said when she was coroner 2000 to 2004, she was paid the same as other office holders. In addition, Amos said Kohr did not ask for the coroner’s 2013 budget to be doubled from $50,000 to $100,000 for autopsy fees. That is money that would pay for her salary increase, Amos said.
After the meeting, Amos said she “feels they directly discriminated against me. Whenever they changed the salary ... they did it directed at myself. It is not fair, it is not right and it is not on par with anything else in the state of Indiana,” Amos said.
Amos said she will next likely “talk to my attorney.”
County Auditor Tim Seprodi, after the council vote, said Kohr in a June 18 budget committee “said autopsies will be charged on an individual basis, which caused the increase in the autopsy fees. Dr. Kohr is on the recording.”
Seprodi said Amos had requested minutes of the council, but first requested minutes from Sept. 12, a date the council or a committee did not meet. “I could not comply with that date, but we are gathering the information and will get it to her by Friday,” Seprodi told the council.
Reporter Howard Greninger can be reached at 812-231-4204 or howard.greninger@
tribstar.com.
News
Vigo County Council denies coroner’s salary appeal
Amos seeking to have salary brought up to level of comparable counties, other Vigo office holders
- News
-
-
Terre Haute Coke & Carbon: Cleaning up a legacy
When heavy equipment starts moving dirt next week at the former Terre Haute Coke and Carbon industrial site, city officials hope a new day will be dawning for a long-neglected part of town.
-
Diversity growing: New census report shows changing face of Indiana
Like the rest of the nation, Indiana is continuing on a trend toward greater diversity as the numbers of Hispanics, blacks, Asians and other minorities are rising at a faster pace than whites.
-
Valley following diversity path of nation, Indiana
Like much of Indiana, the majority white population in the Wabash Valley is on the decline, while minority populations are on the increase.
-
Court lets walkout fines against House Democrats stand
House Democrats who had to pay more than $100,000 in fines after they walked out of the Indiana Statehouse two years ago during a legislative session won’t get the help they sought from the Indiana Supreme Court.
-
Arrest made, victim identified in Rosedale homicide
The victim in a Parke County homicide that occurred last week has been identified as Kathryn A. Bays, 55, of Rosedale.
-
Vermillion industrial park gets award for transition
The Vermillion Rise Mega Park, a former chemical weapons base now an industrial park north of Clinton, has gotten national attention for its rapid transition to civilian from military use.
-
Slight damage from evening storm
Very little damage was reported from a late evening storm that rolled through the Wabash Valley on Tuesday.
-
U.S. 41 lane restrictions
Motorists should expect delays because of lane restrictions on U.S. 41 in Sullivan County next week as a railroad company repairs a rail crossing 1.2 miles north of Shelburn.
-
Back home again: Items from vaudeville stage and Terre Haute native sent to Historical Society
The staff at the Vigo County Historical Museum are excited about the arrival of priceless items used by Terre Haute-native Rose Fehrenbach and her husband, Edward Pierce, to promote their Vaudeville acts in the early 20th century.
-
Husband charged in Archer homicide
Terre Haute Police have found local reports of domestic violence between a Terre Haute man and his wife, whose body was discovered wrapped in a tarp and dumped in an Ohio ditch.
-
National Road panels dedicated
Rewind to the mid-1800s, when the trotting of a horse and buggy on National Road could be heard alongside the voices of people heading west, searching for opportunities.
-
Pence sets agency priorities
Following a directive from Gov. Mike Pence, state agency heads are reorganizing some of their top priorities to better reflect the first-year governor’s “roadmap for Indiana” plan for improving the state’s economy, infrastructure and health.
-
Another I-70 traffic snarl: Three injured in two related crashes
Three people were injured Monday afternoon from a pair of crashes on Interstate 70 that temporarily closed the highway and diverted traffic into Terre Haute.
-
Terre Haute man still hospitalized after scooter/car crash
A Terre Haute man remained hospitalized Monday at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis after his scooter struck a car early Saturday on Wabash Avenue at 25th Street.
-
Overpass repairs causing Interstate 70 lane restrictions
Repairs to the Frye Road overpass in southeastern Vigo County has caused a restriction to the left lane of Interstate 70 between the 13- and 14-mile markers, about two miles east of the Indiana 46 exit.
-
Indiana woman condemned for killing at 15 is freed
A woman who was sentenced to death at age 16 for taking part in the torture and murder of a 78-year-old Bible studies teacher was released from an Indiana prison Monday after growing to middle age behind bars.
-
Grant will let Vigo Library evaluate map collection
The Vigo County Public Library has received a $2,000 grant to evaluate its historic map collection, a library official announced Monday.
-
Four juveniles caught on elementary school roof; one injured jumping off
Police say a juvenile was lucky to have suffered only a broken leg after jumping from the roof of a Vigo County elementary school – dropping about 30 feet to the ground.
-
Farmersburg man sentenced after guilty plea in rape case
A Farmersburg man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to a rape that occurred at his parents’ residence in May 2012.
-
Still no information being released on Rosedale homicide
No new information was being released Monday afternoon concerning a Rosedale homicide.
-
Fathers take time out to spend quality time with children, grandchildren
A big, circular white cloud rose up through the tall atrium as Mike Woods held his 4-year son, Nathan, Sunday at the Terre Haute Children’s Museum.
-
On Friday, hit the park and raise funds for skateboarders
The On-board United Initiative — O.U.I. for short — has scheduled an all-ages fundraising event Friday in honor of national Go Skateboarding Day.
-
STATE OF THE STATEHOUSE: Sentencing law could benefit juveniles
Monica Foster is a longtime public defender who’s been pushing uphill in the legal system for a long time. So, when she says the General Assembly is making progress protecting the rights of the disenfranchised, it’s worth stopping to listen to her.
-
Mastering the art of Gardening
The Wabash Valley Master Gardeners group gathered over the weekend to marvel at each other’s gardens on its annual garden tour. The event was a chance for master gardeners to showcase their labor of love, meanwhile sharing stories about their plants.
-
RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: June 17, 2013
The Vigo County Health Department inspected the following food establishments May 28-31:
-
Lawn mower fire destroys barn
A lawn mower that caught fire was cited as the cause of a fire that destroyed a single story barn Sunday in the 2000 block of North Chamberlain Street, said Harold Osborn, assistant fire chief of the Lost Creek Township Fire Department.
-
Wabash Valley residents vie for spot on Wheel of Fortune
Ellen Fujawa of Zionsville wants to be on the popular syndicated Wheel of Fortune game show.
-
No ID yet on body found in Rosedale home
Sheriff Mike Eslinger said his department is waiting to obtain an immediate family’s confirmation of a woman found dead in a home in the 2900 block of West Rosehill Lane.
-
Vigo School Corp. eliminating bus transportation for middle school sports teams
The Vigo County School Corp. will no longer provide school bus transportation for middle school athletic events, starting with the 2013-14 school year.
-
B.J. RILEY: Fathers are an inspiring figure
Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a salesman. In grade school, I was so excited about selling candy bars or candles or whatever the chosen product.
- More News Headlines
-
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Tiger on Sergio: 'It's Time to Move On'
Raw: NASCAR Driver Jason Leffler Dies in Wreck
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
Robot Action Connected to Human Thought
Raw: Massive Protests Fill Brazilian Streets
Failed Cuba-to-Florida Swimmer Won't Try Again
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Rain Damages Brazil Soccer Stadium
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Obama: 'Lives Have Been Saved' by NSA Programs
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
James Gandolfini Dies at Age 51
Paula Deen Admits to Using N Word
Rihanna Hits Fan With Microphone
Men's Wearhouse Founder Fired
Miss Utah Explains Rambling Response
Exclusive: Locklear & Seymour Lock Lips
Miami Heat Wins in Overtime
Fists, chairs fly in restaurant brawl
Journalist Michael Hastings Dies in Fiery Hollywood Crash
Hairy Leg Stockings Aim to Deflect Male Attention
Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor
Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
