Tyler team includes experience in Muncie

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - Mayor-elect Dennis Tyler relied on experience and an established law firm headed by Jack Quirk to round out his new city hall team that will take office Jan. 1.

 "I have to apologize that the majority of these appointment cannot be here today," said Tyler. "They are working for a living someplace." 

 The surprises include Audrey Jones, 30, deputy clerk treasurer at Yorktown, and Sarah Beach, 47, a substitute teacher who worked at the old Indiana Gas Co., and more recently at Jarden. Jones is the new city controller and Beach will be human resources director at city hall.  The staff accountant at Cornerstone Center for the Arts, Kelley Harless, will join her former boss, Terry Whitt Bailey, as assistant Community Development director charged with accounting for millions in federal entitlement funds. Bailey was Cornerstone director before running the Madame Walker Theater in Indianapolis, and then coming back to run Community Development for Tyler.

 Jones has a master's in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University, an undergraduate degree from Northwood University, and associate degree in accounting from Ivy Tech Community College.  She has worked 11 years for Town Clerk-Treasurer Beth Neff, handling the budget, payroll, account receivables, and other accounting work. "I think this is a great opportunity," said Jones, whose resignation was announced to the town council this week. 

 "Audrey has the experience necessary in government accounting procedures," said. Tyler.

 The money and that $5 million surplus Mayor Sharon McShurley has promised the new administration has raised questions given some recent spending this month. The mayor said last week that new heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems were installed at Buley and Ross centers while she just cut a $100,000 check to the Muncie Arts and Cultural Council.

 Tyler said his team, several who were named two weeks ago, already have been working with current officials to ensure a smooth transition. The mayor knows that 2012 will be tough even with a cash balance because of property tax caps and other limited revenue.

 The known appointments were Quirk, and his family firm of Quirk, Rivers and Hunter, to be Tyler's top lawyers. Quirk, 70, said the firm was giving up representing county government and work exclusively for city government. He and his children also serve as county public defenders. Quirk indicated there was absolutely no room in government for conflict and guaranteed ongoing disagreement and litigation would end with Tyler's administration. Tyler's campaign centered on cooperation and communication as compared to McShurley, a Republican, who fought with local Democrats and tried to litigate her way out of conflicts. 

 Jack Quirk also was city attorney for the last Democratic mayor, the late James P. Carey. And son, John, will be the attorney for Muncie's Board of Public Works and Safety. Another son, Mike, is still the local Democratic Party chairman. Daughter Megan, was by her father's side on Thursday. 

 Another known appointee was Harvey Wright, a garage foreman at the Delaware County Highway Department, will be the new park superintendent. And Chase Winkle, a restaurant manager, will served on the park board, replacing Amy Gregg. His dad, former Muncie Police Chief Joe Winkle, a Republican, supported Tyler as did other members of  the former drug task force who were ousted by McShurley's administration. Tyler said Wright has experience in baseball and sports organization besides his experience in mechanics and equipment. 

 The park board has been under fire for raising fees and restricting use that was among the causes for McShurley's defeat. The African-American community became outraged by some of the park board's action and McShurley's antics over the Black Expo festival. More people were upset this week when the park board decided to raise fees at Prairie Creek Reservoir and campground.