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Waterville council approves 5% wage reopener for firefighters and renews property/casualty coverage
Summary
City council authorized a 5% pay increase for the full‑time firefighters under a memorandum of understanding and approved renewal of comprehensive property and liability coverage administered by Highland Administrative Services.
The Waterville City Council on Aug. 25 approved a memorandum of understanding that implements a 5% wage reopener for the city’s full‑time firefighters and authorized staff to renew the city’s comprehensive property, casualty and liability insurance package.
Municipal staff said the firefighter contract covers August 2023 through August 2026 and included a negotiated wage reopener provision. The council approved the MOU, which provides a 5% increase that municipal staff said aligns with recent police department adjustments. Council members praised the public‑safety departments and said the increase recognized firefighters’ service.
The council also approved renewal of coverage through Highland Administrative Services, the administrator for the Ohio Government Risk Management Plan. Municipal staff reported a modest premium increase (about 3 percent) driven by inflationary increases in replacement costs for several city buildings; staff said one example was an increase in the estimated replacement cost per square foot for the fire station.
Council discussion reviewed the city’s approach to valuation and replacement-cost estimates; members asked whether independent appraisals had been done and whether the city should periodically re-evaluate insured values. Staff said they would consider outside appraisal options for major facilities in the future. The insurance renewal and the MOU will be reflected in the city’s fiscal reports and payroll budget reconciliations.
