Wymore council approves contract for new police chief with revised leave package

The Wymore City Council voted 4-0 on June 17 to approve a contract for Mike Rath to become the city’s next police chief, agreeing to remove overtime language and to adopt a revised paid-leave schedule.

Mayor Collin Meints and council members approved the contract in a motion by Council Person Max Allen, seconded by Council Person Sue Sapp. City Attorney Andy Carothers had circulated a draft based on the previous chief’s contract and fielded questions about vacation, sick time, personal time and salary adjustments tied to Rath’s decision not to take the city’s health insurance.

Under the terms the council approved, Rath will receive 80 hours of vacation after six months of employment, increasing to 120 hours per year after five years. Sick leave was set at 80 hours after the six-month probationary period, with an additional 80 hours to be credited on May 1, 2027, and 96 hours annually thereafter. The contract also provides one shift’s worth of personal time per year and other benefits described in the Wymore Personnel Handbook. The council struck the prior overtime language from the draft and agreed to adjust salary to reflect Rath’s choice on city-provided health insurance.

City Attorney Andy Carothers will incorporate the changes into the written contract and distribute the revised document to council members. The council said it would schedule a special meeting if any further revisions are required before the document is delivered to Rath.

The item concluded with a recorded 4-0 approval; the transcript of the meeting does not list individual roll-call votes beyond the recorded motion and outcome.