Urbana council approves landfill testing contract, city health plan and package of salary ordinances

The Urbana City Council voted unanimously Feb. 18 to authorize a $51,144 purchase order for semiannual groundwater testing at the city landfill, approve the city’s employee health insurance renewals with Anthem totaling $2,057,180.18, and adopt a set of salary-and-benefits ordinances that update pay ranges for several executive and department positions.

The actions came during the Board of Control and then full council roll calls. Councilors approved the landfill testing purchase at the Board of Control level and later ratified a series of ordinances setting salary ranges for positions including the fire chief, assistant fire chief, police chief, police lieutenant and multiple administrative directors.

Why it matters: the landfill testing and the insurance contract are recurring, budgeted expenses that affect the city’s general fund and personnel costs. The salary ordinances set multiyear pay ranges through Dec. 31, 2027, that will govern administration of pay but leave individual salaries to the city’s payroll administration.

Details of the landfill testing and contract A Board of Control recommendation asked the council to authorize a purchase order to Tarrant Corporation for $51,144 to cover the city’s 2025 semiannual groundwater testing at the landfill. Council discussion noted the city…