New hires in refuse department to collect higher wages now

With a need for new employees and a lack of applicants, members of Holyoke City Council approved a wage increase for new hires in the city’s refuse department at their regular meeting Tuesday, Aug. 18.

The wage for new employees without a CDL jumped from $15 per hour to $17.50 per hour, and those with a CDL will be paid $18.50 per hour compared to the previous wage of $16 per hour.

City Superintendent Mark Brown told the board that he didn’t have any more applicants for the refuse department than he did at the previous meeting two weeks earlier.

“At our starting wages, we’re not going to attract anyone,” he said. “We’re going to be up a creek without a paddle here shortly.”

In addition to the wages, Brown and the council also brainstormed new places to advertise job openings.

Swimming pool remains closed

While Holyoke Swimming Pool originally closed due to COVID-19 in the spring, the city jumped on the opportunity to get the boiler system fixed during the closure.

Brown updated the board that everything has been repaired at the pool; however, some COVID-19 regulations need to be taken into account before reopening the pool.

Brown said that there are guidelines about how many people can use the pool at a time and restrictions for indoor pools are more strict than outdoor ones. In between each group, the facility must be thoroughly cleaned. He estimated that each round of cleaning will take two to three people a couple of hours.

“It’s not very cost-effective,” said Brown.

The council discussed the groups that are most anxious to get back in the pool and the possibility of having swimmers help with the cleaning.

The topic was tabled until the next meeting.

Floodplain study to be updated

Brown reported that he recently attended a virtual meeting regarding a mapping project and floodplain study — something that hasn’t been updated for two decades.

The project will include defining the floodplain more accurately as well as modeling the watershed that runs into the Frenchman Creek.

“It will be a challenge and a long process,” said Brown.

Council hears reports

Brown told the council his crews recently resolved two power outages and quickly repaired a water main break. Even though the bathrooms at City Park have been closed due to COVID-19, the city discovered and fixed a leak under the floor. Since it’s back-to-school time, street crews have been painting crosswalks.

Brown also reported that a project at the airport had to be postponed because some of the crew members scheduled to come to Holyoke had COVID-19.

Chief Doug Bergstrom reported that the Holyoke Police Department handled or generated 68 calls for service from July 30-Aug. 11, including code enforcement. He also said the department was part of a small pursuit recently.

City Clerk Kathy Olofson gave the council an update on the upcoming election.

City Attorney Al Wall told council members that the city will need to do an ordinance to extend the lodging tax, subject to voter approval. He also said he will need to meet with the police committee to revamp an ordinance.

Recreation director Victoria Dunker had good news for the council. She was given approval to use the school fields for flag football. The season will start Sept. 1, and at the time of the meeting, Dunker was accepting sign-ups from players as well as looking for more coaches. She said there is a possibility that out-of-town teams will come to Holyoke for games. “I’m glad that we can play,” she said.

Dunker noted that the recreation department most likely will follow the school’s modified COVID-19 schedule and not do sports from October to December.

Other business

In other business at the Aug. 18 meeting, council members:

— Approved the purchase of 225 LED light bulbs for $12,150 from Border States to finish replacing all the street lights in the city.

— Heard about the mutual aid commendation city employees received from the American Public Power Association for providing assistance to the town of Haxtun following a June storm.

— Received a request for community service ideas from Holyoke High School FCCLA members Jimena Nuñez and Rylee Oakley.