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Council extends storm overtime pay as code officers handle surge of permits
Summary
The council extended a storm pay benefit to Sept. 30 to allow code officers to earn overtime while handling a post‑storm surge that produced 2,372 permits in April–May; the extension passed unanimously (11–0).
Kankakee City Council voted unanimously on June 15 to extend a previously approved storm pay benefit (resolution 2026-44) from May 31 to Sept. 30, 2026, a measure staff said is needed to allow code officers to earn overtime while managing high post‑storm workloads.
City Manager Kubal described the extension as a short-term personnel measure to cover overtime: "this simply is only extending the date from May 31st...to September 30th to get us through summer." Kubal said the intent is to allow code officers to be paid overtime for hours worked beyond protected nonwork time and not to penalize them for scheduled personal days.
Mayor Curtis and Director Nelson provided permit statistics underscoring the workload: Mayor Curtis reported that "code issued 2,372 permits" from April 1 through May 31 — nearly double the city's permit volume from the previous year — and recounted an example in which 32 permits and four contractor registrations arrived in a single four‑hour period. Council members underscored the strain on staff and the need for public patience while inspections and registrations are processed.
The council approved the resolution 11–0. Staff said they will reevaluate the overtime policy in September and continue monitoring permit-processing needs as storm recovery continues.
