Pinckneyville City Council awards raises
The Pinckneyville City Council voted to raise the hourly wage for part-time police officers to $15.
The city's four part-time employees and six managers will receive a $.50 per hour raise for three years. The raises are retroactive to June 1. Union employees received the same raise in their contracts.
Fire Chief Jim Gielow's pay was raised to $16.50 per hour, also retroactive to June 1. Commissioner Kevin Hicks said the raise was overdue and pointed out that the city and the Rural Fire District split the cost of the chief's pay. The Rural Fire Board has already agreed to the raise.
In other business, the council:
• approved the paperwork to close out the 2013 motor fuel tax program. Devon DeJournett of H.M.&G said that Pinckneyville had $168,000 available for the year and spent $97,000. The city can use the remaining $70,000 later. As part of the close-out procedure, H.M.&G. reviewed the street department's books. They found the city spent $53,000 on labor and equipment in 2013 and recommended reimbursement of $40,000 of that from motor fuel tax funds.
• placed on file for public inspection the 2014 motor fuel tax program paperwork appropriating $131,000. After the council votes, the paperwork will be sent to IDOT for review. Then the city may take bids on the 2014 materials and projects after advertising.
• re-appointed Captains Tom Bardle and Chuck McElvain, First Lieutenants Alan McClurken Jr. and Kevin Kelly and Second Lieutenants John Mucha and Robert Opp Jr. as officers at the Fire Department.
• approved hiring Nicholas J. Giacomo, James A. Sroka and Logan K. Woods-Willis as volunteer firefighters.
• passed a resolution extending a farm lease with Gary Schumier. The extension does not include the ground to be used for the new soccer field.
• heard from Commissioner Leonard Heisner that he and Economic Development Coordinator Carrie Gilliam are working with Attorney Roger Seibert to begin proceedings to terminate revolving loans to those who are behind on their payments.
• heard from Heisner that Pinckneyville native Eldon Rigdon will be 100 on Friday. There is a party for him at 2 p.m. on Feb. 28 at Coulterville Care Center.