NEW PALESTINE — One of the first questions Yvonne Jonas asked after the New Palestine Town Council selected her to be the new clerk-treasurer was, “When can I start?”
“Right away,” Councilman Bill Niemier said.
Jonas, who runs Jonas Productions with her husband, has lived in the town for over 20 years. The couple’s company provides sound equipment and event planning for entertainers, corporate entities and others. Because COVID-19 has shut down most concerts and entertainment events, Jonas found herself looking for a new challenge. She said it was time to start giving back to the community and felt her business experience as a CFO made her perfect for the clerk’s job.
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“I’m a doer,” Jonas said. “I’m excited to take things on.”
Jonas was a unanimous choice by the council on Wednesday, Sept. 23, to replace Tonii Pyle, who stepped down from the clerk’s job earlier this month after months of controversy.
Jonas was immediately sworn in to her new role by county Judge Marie Castetter. She planned to start work as soon as Thursday, Sept. 24. She intends to stay in the role for the remaining three years and three months of Pyle’s term. The position will be up for election in 2023.
Jonas was one of a handful of people who applied for the position. However, only two people were interviewed for the job, because they were the only ones who lived within the town boundaries.
Jenny Greiner, New Palestine, was also interviewed at town hall during a special meeting Wednesday evening, Sept. 23. Council members liked both candidates but in the end went with Jonas, who noted she was willing to work full time; has significant experience being a chief financial officer; and has worked with computer programs.
“I have no doubt if we would choose either one of you, we’d be making a fantastic choice,” Niemier said. “Our voters never had that choice.”
Niemier and the rest of the council noted they’re pleased to move on from their troubles with Pyle, who ran unopposed in 2019.
Jonas, who has followed reports of the council’s conflicts with Pyle, said she plans to work well with the council and is known as a people person.
“People who know me in our business say I’m the glue that holds things together,” Jonas said. “I aim to be friendly and am genuinely a friendly person.”
That thrilled council president Brandee Bastin, who said the relationship between the council and the clerk’s office is crucial to smoothly running the town.
“A good relationship between a clerk, the department heads and the council is imperative in a small town like this,” councilman Clint Bledsoe said.
Jonas, who will make $47,000 per year to be the town’s financial overeer, told the council she and Greiner are good friends. Jonas talked of perhaps using Greiner as her assistant if the budget allows.
That’s something Bastin noted the council would have to plan for next year. The money for a clerk’s assistant this year is being used for the remainder of 2020 to pay a town employee who is assisting the council. That happened after Pyle fired the employee.
Jonas also noted she’s willing to work with the council members, who all have full-time jobs elsewhere, to make sure they quickly get information needed to do their jobs.
“We’re going to fix whatever drama things have been going on here,” Jonas said. “I don’t do drama.”
The hiring of Jonas, town officials said, brings to an end issues between the council and the clerk’s office that arose when the council fired Pyle’s father-in law, then-town manager Dave Book, in March.
“We’re looking for a new atmosphere around here,” Niemier said.
