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Albia council approves multiple wage increases, hires seventh police officer and OKs $10,000 sign‑on bonus
Summary
At a June 12 special meeting, the City of Albia Council unanimously approved pay increases across public works, sanitation, city administration and the police department, authorized hiring a seventh officer, approved a $10,000 sign‑on bonus for a certified officer and a $1,000 one‑time pandemic bonus for current employees.
The City of Albia Council approved a package of wage increases, staffing changes and bonuses during a special meeting on June 12, 2023. Mayor Richard Clark called the session to order at 6:00 p.m.; the meeting concluded at 7:29 p.m.
Councilmembers said they had compared employee pay with other communities before voting on raises and staffing. Councilmember Kathy Mobley moved — and Councilmember Scott Kelly seconded — a $2.00-per-hour increase for the street commissioner, street workers and a probationary street employee; the motion carried 6-0. Councilmember Scott Kelly then moved — and Councilmember Merle Regenold seconded — a matching $2.00-per-hour increase for the sanitation commissioner, sanitation worker and a probationary sanitation employee; that motion also passed 6-0.
Councilmember Brandon Williams moved, and Councilmember Merle Regenold seconded, a $1.00-per-hour raise for the City Clerk; the motion passed 6-0. Williams later moved — with Regenold seconding — to adopt a revised police pay schedule that sets the Police Secretary at $24.50 per hour; a non‑certified probationary officer at $28.00 per hour; a probationary certified officer at $30.00 per hour; a certified patrol officer at $32.00 per hour; a sergeant at $32.30 per hour; an assistant chief at $33.00 per hour; and the chief of police at an annual salary of $75,000. That motion passed unanimously.
Separately, Williams moved and Councilmember Dennis Conley seconded a motion to hire a seventh police officer; the council approved the hire 6-0. Councilmember Kathy Mobley moved, and Councilmember Scott Kelly seconded, approval of a $10,000 sign‑on bonus for a newly hired certified police officer; the motion carried 6-0.
Finally, Williams moved and Mobley seconded a one‑time $1,000 bonus for employees who were in current employment for work during the COVID‑19 pandemic, with the payout scheduled for September 2023; the motion passed 6-0.
The City Clerk, Linda Heller, prepared the minutes of the special session. The council did not record any dissenting votes at the meeting.
The council’s actions increase hourly pay for multiple operational positions, set a new police compensation schedule, add one sworn position to the department and allocate a substantial sign‑on incentive intended to attract certified officers. The minutes do not specify the funding source(s) for the raises, the sign‑on bonus, or the one‑time pandemic payment, nor do they state whether the police chief position’s $75,000 salary replaces a prior rate or is newly established. The council adjourned at 7:29 p.m.
