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Mayor urges council to approve five employee contracts as members press for clarity on utility-rate impacts
Summary
At the April 20 Alliance City Council meeting, Mayor Grove urged approval of five employee-contract ordinances that completed three readings, while council members questioned whether recent water and sewer rate changes would be sufficient to replenish the Utility Enterprise Account.
Mayor Grove urged the Alliance City Council on April 20 to approve five ordinances ratifying employee contracts that had completed three readings, saying the city has the funds to cover them.
"He is confident that the City can afford these five contracts," Mayor Grove said as he reviewed General Fund and Utility Enterprise Account figures. Councilmembers discussed how the utility fund would replenish after recent rate changes; Councilwoman Jennifer Kiko asked, "How will it replenish itself by the rates that were already raised?" President Pro Tem Dr. Lohnes responded with projected increase figures, noting "5% - sewer, 3% water for the next five years. 8% a year for the next five years - 40% plus for the next five years. ... $217,000.00 a year is what that equates to."
Newly introduced Safety Service Director Blaine Lewis told the council that the administration negotiated the proposed contracts to keep up with inflation and to treat employees equally, and he encouraged their approval. "He believes these proposed contracts do that and he encouraged them to approve them," Lewis said.
The minutes record the mayor's request and the discussion of rates; they do not record a final council vote on the five employee-contract ordinances in this set of minutes. The council did, during the meeting, move to receive and file communications and later adjourned by unanimous roll call.
