Grantsville council approves bereavement change, swap‑meet fee, dispatch MOU, canine MOU and wage correction

Grantsville City Council on April 23 approved a package of ordinances and resolutions addressing employee bereavement leave, the business license fee schedule, dispatch services, acquisition of an electronic storage detection canine, and a correction to police lieutenant/sergeant wage steps.

Ordinance 2025-20 — bereavement and funeral leave The council approved ordinance 2025-20 to convert bereavement leave from a days-based measure to an hours-based allocation. Under the revision, employees receive up to 24 hours (three eight-hour days) of leave for immediate family bereavement and up to 16 hours for extended family; the ordinance also explicitly recognizes aunts and uncles. Staff told the council employees may use vacation or other leave in addition to bereavement hours. The motion to approve passed unanimously.

Ordinance 2025-22 — business license fee schedule (swap‑meet vendors) Council approved ordinance 2025-22 to add a monthly $5 swap-meet vendor license fee to the city’s fee schedule. Staff said the charge was already in the city code but had not been added to the fee schedule; the fee will allow the city to process vendor licenses for events at the Bert Brothers Motorsports Park (formerly UMC). The motion carried.

Resolution 2025-29 — dispatch services agreement The council approved the annual memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the county for dispatch services. Staff reported the contract cost decreased this year after the sheriff applied funds to offset the fee. The council approved the MOU by motion.

Resolution 2025-30 — electronic storage detection canine MOU The council approved an MOU with a nonprofit to acquire an electronic-storage-detection and victim-support canine for the police department. Detective Bobby Bassett described a donated program that covers the dog’s training, travel, food and veterinary care and said the city’s obligations are limited mainly to the officer’s time to train and handle the dog and recurring certification. Bassett said the dog would be available for Internet Crimes Against Children investigations, victim support at the Children’s Justice Center and other victim interaction, and periodic public-safety uses such as searching for hidden devices. The motion passed; the detective expects to begin training in June with the dog available later this summer.

Resolution — wage-scale correction for lieutenants and sergeants Council approved a correction to the wage scale for lieutenants and sergeants that removes early steps and adds later steps so promoted supervisors do not experience a pay decrease and so long-term steps are available. The change moves current sergeants and lieutenants to an appropriate step in July and adds steps 6 and 7 for future progression. Council members said HR will work with police management to implement the transition.

What’s next Most measures passed by voice vote during the meeting. City staff will implement the ordinance and resolution changes, update fee schedules, and complete the required administrative steps for the canine MOU and police wage adjustments.