Scott City council OKs raises of up to 3 percent

A maximum 3 percent raise was approved for all city employees at the Scott City council meeting Monday night.

By July 1, the city has to approve its 2015-2016 fiscal year budget, and the council was under pressure to come to a consensus on how much of a raise to provide its workers.

Three percent across the board first was mentioned at the meeting. But as discussion continued, councilman Pete Wadlington said he believed Scott City residents would not approve of raises when they had to increase water rates this year.

Mayor Tim Porch said water rates and pay increases were not related, and the bond issue was completely out of the city's hands.

"Cape Girardeau and Jackson are a fishing ground for our public works and police and fire departments," Porch said. "If we want to keep the good guys, we have to be able to compete."

Council members also discussed not increasing pay for employees who earn $15 or more an hour. Porch said, however, he didn't see why employees would continue to improve their work performance if they didn't feel there was anything to work toward.

City administrator Ron Eskew said this year, the cost of living has increased 2.125 percent, which he asked the council to take into account.

Councilman Randy Morse said he agreed with giving 3 percent increases across the board.

"We don't want to save money on the backs of the workers," Morse said. "... I would like to see it (the pay raise) come up for some of those lower workers as well."

Morse agreed with councilman Norman Brandt, who said those making about $10.50 an hour especially deserved the raise.

Brandt's proposal for a 3 percent across-the-board pay increase did not pass.

A second suggestion was to give departments the total 3 percent raise, then allow department supervisors to give their employees raises based on evaluations.

No employee, however, would receive more than a 3 percent increase.

On the second try, the budget and pay-raise ordinance unanimously passed.

Other business

• A public hearing for the condemnation of two storage sheds at 1515 Mary St. was postponed to July 6.
• Brandon Cook, a full time police officer for Scott City, was approved as a volunteer firefighter, as well.
• Old business concerning the subdividing of 211 Jetta Mae Drive was resolved. The council agreed to allow Darrin Raines to subdivide his land and place a modular home on the second lot, in addition to the three storage sheds he has there.

There is no ordinance limiting the number of storage units a property owner can have as long as it does not exceed a certain percentage of square footage. Raines was within that limit.

Neighbors at June council meetings opposed the sheds, saying they would decrease the value of their property. Porch said the issue of modular homes and storage sheds are something he hopes the council will address in the next year.

• An ordinance was approved fines associated with seat-belt laws for people younger than 18 years old. The ordinance stated everyone in the vehicle must wear a seat belt, and no vehicle shall be stopped solely to inspect whether occupants are obeying the ordinance. Any person convicted of violating the ordinance will be fined $10, with no cost assessed. A similar fee is applied to those not wearing a helmet while on a motorcycle.

smaue@semissourian.com

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