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Goshen council approves pay ordinances, police reserves and county hazard plan in single session
Summary
During the Oct. 6 meeting the council approved a series of ordinances that set 2026 compensation adjustments for elected officials and city employees, authorized police reserve officers, and adopted the Elkhart County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan 2025; all passed unanimously.
Goshen City Council on Oct. 6 approved several ordinances and resolutions covering elected-official pay, employee compensation, police reserve appointments and county hazard planning.
Votes at a glance
- Ordinance 52-35 (2026 compensation for elected officials): Passed on first and second reading (3% cost-of-living adjustment), unanimous vote.
- Ordinance 52-36 (2026 compensation for civil city and utilities employees): Passed on first and second reading (3% cost-of-living adjustment); council discussed pay-grade adjustments for select positions and a staff plan to return with implementation details; unanimous vote.
- Ordinance 52-37 (2026 compensation for fire department employees): Passed on first and second reading; unanimous vote.
- Ordinance 52-38 (2026 compensation for police department employees): Passed on first and second reading; unanimous vote.
- Ordinance 52-39 (authorization to appoint police reserve officers and payment of compensation in 2026): Passed on first and second reading; unanimous vote.
- Resolution 2025-17 (adopt Elkhart County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan 2025): Passed unanimously; the resolution enables local eligibility for county- and potentially federal-level disaster reimbursement in the event of tornadoes, floods or other declared disasters.
Council President Weddell moved the various wage and appointment ordinances; seconders were recorded in the meeting minutes for each item. City staff noted the compensation ordinances reflect a 3% cost-of-living adjustment already budgeted; staff said they would return with recommendations on additional merit adjustments where collective-bargaining agreements or MOUs make implementation complex.
Chief Powell explained Resolution 2025-17 as an administrative step to maintain eligibility for reimbursement after a natural disaster. "If we have a natural disaster such as a tornado or a flood, we can request reimbursement through the county, which would then request through the federal government," he said.
All items above passed with unanimous council votes on the days they were presented; no votes failed on these ordinances.
