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 has worked with the consultant several years and that sampling currently covers roughly 22 monitoring wells; staff said seven remaining homeowner-monitoring wells show arsenic-driven results. A staff member said the consultant’s work aims to show the arsenic is naturally occurring and not attributable to the landfill, which would reduce potential corrective liabilities. The purchase order was described as budgeted in the 2025 general fund and was passed at the Board of Control level by a 3–0 vote before final approval by council.

Health insurance renewal and costs City staff described the Anthem Group health plan renewal as the city’s annual employee enrollment for medical, dental and vision coverage. Chris (staff member, benefits) told council the insurer initially proposed a roughly 21% increase, which was negotiated down to an approximate 6% increase for 2025. The full renewal package — including medical (Anthem), vision and dental (Delta Dental, EyeMed referenced) — was presented as $2,057,180.18; staff said the 2025 budget currently lists $1,978,310 for insurance expenses. Council approved the renewal in a roll call vote.

Salary ordinances adopted Council considered and passed multiple ordinances that revise effective dates and pay ranges for nonunion and leadership positions through Dec. 31, 2027. The ordinances referenced by council included (by ordinance number and subject): - Ordinance 4397-25: salary and benefits for the fire chief (range described in discussion as roughly $112,000–$127,000). - Ordinance 4398-25: salary and benefits for assistant fire chief (range discussed as roughly $95,000–$118,000). - Ordinance 4399-25: salary-and-classification adjustments for essential central staff and position-classification pay tables (three-year program including a market-rate adjustment and multi-year increases). - Ordinance 4400-25: salary and benefits for the police chief (discussion referenced $112,227 as the range figure shown in the meeting materials). - Ordinance 4401-25: salary and benefits for police lieutenant (range described as about $95,000–$118,000). - Ordinance 4405-25: salary and benefits for director of administration (range discussed roughly $123,000–$140,000). - Ordinance 4406-25: salary and benefits for director of finance (range discussed roughly $115,000–$130,000). - Ordinance 4407-25: salary and benefits for the director of law (range discussed roughly $115,000–$130,000).

Council discussion on the ordinances was procedural and brief; presenters noted the ordinances primarily update effective dates and ranges so future hires or contract adjustments align with the multi‑year pay tables. All ordinances in this set passed on roll call votes recorded as unanimous.

Votes at a glance - Board of Control item: authorize purchase order to Tarrant Corporation for semiannual groundwater testing at the landfill ($51,144). Board of Control vote reported 3–0; council ratified (outcome: approved). - Board of Control item: authorize Anthem group health insurance and ancillary plans (medical, dental, vision) — $2,057,180.18 (budget line shown as $1,978,310). Board of Control reported 3–0; council ratified (outcome: approved). - Ordinances 4397-25, 4398-25, 4399-25, 4400-25, 4401-25, 4405-25, 4406-25, 4407-25 — each placed on the floor for third reading and passed on unanimous roll calls (outcomes: adopted).

Other items mentioned During department reports staff noted the city’s lead-service-line inventory and mandatory notice letters required by the EPA; staff said the city compiled address-level data, photographs and GIS tie‑ins and that there is currently no federal funding to replace lead lines. Public‑works staff also reported multiple projects out to bid, including ODOT-funded crossings and a municipal building concrete/apron replacement project.

Council scheduled its next regular session for March 4; the meeting adjourned following routine closing business.