Police wages spark broader discussion of City employees’ compensation

Following the Jan. 7 Holyoke City Council meeting, the question of how much police officers should be paid remains unresolved. It’s a conversation that’s been ongoing for several meetings now, and it came up after Holyoke Police Department had two officers leave, presumably for better-paying law enforcement jobs.

On Dec. 3, council members gave Police Chief Doug Bergstrom the go-ahead to advertise the job opening at a starting salary of $42,000 — an increase of $6,500.

On Dec. 17, Bergstrom presented council members with a proposal that would increase each officer’s annual salary by $6,500. Council member Steve Moore asked that the matter be tabled until Jan. 7 so he and council member John Schneider, who make up the police committee, could discuss the proposal further.

While Moore was absent Jan. 7, Schneider presented the council with a new proposal. It listed the new hire at $42,000 and suggested Officer Mary Seeley receive an additional $6,500 as well. The committee recommended Sgt. Mark Werts receive a $3,600 raise and that Bergstrom’s salary stay the same.

In response to the scaled-back proposal, Mayor Orville Tonsing said, “We’ve got a lot of other employees back there that have already voiced their opinion to me that this isn’t going to sit real well.”

Tonsing explained that he realizes the City is going to have to start to pay if it’s going to hire officers, but he emphasized that similar issues might arise when it’s time to make hires in other departments.

City superintendent Mark Brown pointed out that he has three employees who will possibly retire next year. If those positions don’t see a pay increase, he anticipates having trouble hiring new people.

“It’s something we’re going to have to be considering here for next year’s budget for sure,” he said, “or we aren’t going to have qualified replacements.”

Council member Gene Bittner said simply that he thought it was too high the first time.

Council member Brian Akey moved that the committee’s proposal be accepted. The vote was tied, with Kevin Scott, Schneider and Akey in favor and Scott Murray, Bittner and Tonsing against.

When the motion failed, Akey immediately spoke up. “We can’t afford it, but at the same time, can we not afford it, to keep good people around?” he asked. “And maybe that’s something we ought to look at with the people in the back shop at some point in time this year.”

Council members may return with a new proposal at the Jan. 21 meeting.

For all the City employees outside HPD, 2020 wages were approved. Following the meeting, City clerk/treasurer Kathy Olofson summarized that employees earning minimum wage saw a 90-cent increase to meet the state’s new $12 minimum wage. Among other City employees, excluding the police department, the average increase was 3%.

 

Chamber funding renewed

Representing Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, board president Elizabeth Hutches and director Holly Ferguson attended the Jan. 7 city council meeting. Having just started in her new role, Ferguson introduced herself to the council and said that she looks forward to working with local businesses.

Hutches thanked the council for its monthly support last year and asked that it continue through 2020. Members agreed to continue donating $250 per month to the chamber of commerce.

 

240 acres to be leased

City superintendent Mark Brown reported to council members that the lease is up on a half section of land, located 2 miles south of town and owned by the City, and he asked how the council would like to handle it.

Because the corners are still under contract with Pheasants Forever, the council opted to lease only the 240 irrigated acres without the 76 acres of dryland corners for a period of three years. The council intends to open bids Tuesday, Feb. 18.

 

Officials, rec director report

Brown also reported last Tuesday that the electrical department finished taking down Christmas lights, did year-end inventory and is working on servicing equipment. The water and sewer department also finished year-end inventory and is servicing its equipment.

In the street department, the building on the City’s property in the 300 block of West Denver Street is gone. The foundation has been completely removed and the area backfilled and compacted. The department has also been building handles for new polycarts.

Brown also noted that he will be soliciting bids to haul rock for this year’s seal coat program. Bids should be in for the Feb. 4 city council meeting.

Bergstrom reported that HPD, including code enforcement, handled or generated 421 calls for service Dec. 13-Jan. 2. He noted there were six animal complaints and six municipal code violations.

Olofson reported that the City received $50,000 from the Heginbotham Trust for maintenance and repairs at Heginbotham Library.

Recreation director Victoria Dunker reported that the Nuggets Skills Challenge will be held Sunday, Jan. 26, with registration at 1:15 p.m. and the contest beginning at 1:30 p.m. Kids 6-13 years old can participate.

The department’s annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament for grades 3-8 is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 17.

Dunker also reported that she has been in conversation with Greg Etl of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs about developing a master plan for the recreation department.

 

Other business

In other business at the Jan. 7 meeting, council members:

— Following a public hearing, passed Resolution No. 1-2020, establishing new electrical rates.

— Approved a travel request for Lennie Fisbeck to attend Colorado Rural Water Association school in Denver.

— Approved a special events permit for Phillips County Pheasants Forever No. 371 on Saturday, Feb. 1.

— Appointed Julie Wiebke to finish a vacated term of two years and Debbie Brandt to serve a term of five years on the Heginbotham Library Board.

— Accepted an engagement letter from Lauer, Szabo & Associates for the audit of 2019 for a fee not to exceed $12,900.

— Allowed the pickup formerly used by HPD for patrol to be transferred for use at the cemetery.

— Accepted and signed a record of negotiation with Armstrong Consultants.

— Designated Brown as a representative and Scott as an alternate for the Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities board.

Holyoke Enterprise

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