GREENE: Carrollton department heads to receive 6.5 percent raise
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
By Carmen Ensinger
Carrollton City Council members approved a whopping 6.5 percent increase for the three department heads at its June meeting. The meeting was moved from Thursday night, June 9, to Wednesday night, June 8, because of a conflict with Mayor Mike Snyder’s schedule.
Alderman Larry Gillingham said that salary increases were addressed at the committee meetings on May 18 and May 24 regarding the salaries of the Chief of Police, Director of Public Works and City Treasurer. These are all administrative positions and not covered under the Union.
“At the May 18 meeting, we had a recommendation to have a 4.75 percent salary increase for these appointed city officials to be effective on July 1,” Gillingham said. “However, the salary increase was reconsidered at the May 24 meeting that considered whether there was a lack of incentive for an employee to accept the responsibility for an employee to accept the responsibility of being a head of a department when it was possible for a senior employee with significant overtime earnings to possibly meet or exceed the salary of the department head.”
The department in question is the Police Department. Apparently, a senior police officer, who has been with the department for quite some time and earns a substantial salary, has been getting quite a bit of overtime lately. This overtime, when combined with his regular salary, puts his yearly pay at or above that of the police chief.
At the May 24 meeting, the committee recommended a salary increase of 6.5 percent, to become effective on July 1 and continue for one year, at which time it will be reviewed.
The current salaries and salaries after the 6.5 percent increase of each office are as follows: Chief of Police: $66,310.40 after raise $70,616; Director of Public Works: $66,289.60 after raise $70,595.20 and Treasurer: $56,721.60 after raise $60,403.20.
The council approved the hiring of Kennedy Crutchley as a part-time city police officer.
Police Chief Mike McCartney said Crutchley would be an asset to the city police force.
“She is a Deputy Sheriff in Calhoun County and she is certified to interview criminal assault victims and testify in court,” he said. “I feel that with her skills she will be a valuable asset to the city.”
Part-time water plant employees will also be getting a raise.
At the May 18 meeting the Finance and Personnel Committee recommended giving the two permanent part-time employees at the water plant an increase of $1 per hour to become effective July 1. This raise would increase their pay from $12 to $13 per hour for straight time, plus appropriate overtime for hours over 40 per week.
The council approved a revised estimate of maintenance costs for Motor Fuel Tax for fiscal year 2023.
The original Illinois Department of Transportation estimate of maintenance costs was $120,790.03. However, the updated estimate of maintenance costs was $104,754.14. It was noted that this revised amount stayed within the limits of the original resolution.
Jaime Headen, with Benton and Associates, presented a pay request from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on the water plant project in the amount of $262,017.02. The report included invoices from Benton and Associates, Caldwell Tanks, Inc. and Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative periodic grantee report.
In the public comment portion of the meeting, Velma Gillingham mentioned that the Cemetery Board may be looking into the benefits of having a rear discharge mower. She also stated that there are at least 100 burial sites on two acres near the Alms House at the Carrollton Poor Farm. There is concern that although the county is responsible for maintaining this cemetery, it appears that it is not currently well maintained. There are no headstones in this area, and some research might be needed to determine who is buried there.
