Du Quoin inks non-union pay increases

The Du Quoin City Council Monday approved a three-year wage increase for non-union personnel employed at city hall and within the Du Quoin Fire Department. Mayor Guy Alongi said he wanted it spelled out and approved so that this group of employees would know what to expect in the coming three years. The agreement largely mirrors increases in the union contracts.

The agreement provides for a 65-cent per hour increase during the first year and 60-cent increases in the second and third year. Du Quoin firemen will benefit from the same increase, but because their compensation has to take into consideration the number of hours worked in a week the increases are 49 cents an hour the first year and 45 cents an hour in the second and third years.

The council also approved the tax levy for the coming year. The city is seeking $594,800, a 4.9 percent increase over the 2015 levy of $567,039.

That levy will cover most of the city's pension levy that will include $292,293 for firemen, $260,507 for police and $42,000 for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.

The city levies only to cover pension costs.

The council also approved a $74,250 levy for the Du Quoin library. Of that amount $66,200 is for operating costs and $6,250 for pensions.

In other action, the council gave final approval to a new multi-year water contract with Dowell, approved the ordinance requiring planned new businesses to register with the city, held a discussion on straightening out a handful of service

issues with New Wave Communications, approved 30-minute parking on a city-owned lot alongside Green Mountain meats and tabled a condemnation action against a property at 339 North Chestnut St. pending clarification.

The council approved an amendment to a redevelopment agreement for Baked by Gene on North Division Street that helps cover the cost of

a new $2,000 awning.

Lastly, the council facilitated the purchase of two portable pumps for the water department and approved the purchase of a $39,601 diesel truck ventilation system for the fire department. All but five percent of the purchase will be paid for through a grant.