CROTHERSVILLE
Six Crothersville town employees are in line to receive raises at the beginning of 2018.
Two women who work in the town hall and four men who work for the street, water and sewer departments will receive either a $1 or $2 increase in the new year.
The first reading of an ordinance to fix the salaries of appointed officials and employees of the town recently passed 4-1 by the town council. Council President Lenvel “Butch” Robinson cast the lone nay vote.
Council members also spent about 45 minutes discussing the pay rates for the four full-time police officers. The issue was tabled so the council and police department could meet to come to an agreement on pay.
The second and final reading of the salary ordinance will be during the next monthly town council meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 5 at the town hall.
According to the ordinance, office manager Michele Teipen, Sewer Superintendent Mason Boicourt and skilled utility employee Roger Jewell each will receive $1 more per hour. That would make their hourly pay $16.19, $20.31 and $18.25, respectively.
Second deputy Melissa Glenn, Street/Water Superintendent Chris Mains and skilled field employee Nick Tatlock all will get a $2 bump in pay. Their respective hourly rates would be $13.32, $18.99 and $16.50.
The proposed raises initially ranged from 50 cents to $1.25 per hour, but that changed after discussion between the council members.
With Boicourt, Mains and Jewell being licensed to run the sewer and water plant, the council agreed they deserved increases. Before they were licensed, the town paid someone to conduct tests on a monthly basis.
The other town employees were given more money per hour based on their tenure or skills.
As for the police department, proposed salary rates recently were shared with the council. They ranged from $32,000 to $40,000, but that was figured on 40 hours per week.
Officers currently work 12-hour days, logging 36 hours one week and 48 hours the next, and that’s expected to continue.
Since all four officers have been through the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and are available for round-the-clock coverage, no overtime is expected to occur. Reserve officers, who are not paid, also are available to provide coverage when needed.
Currently, Police Chief Brent Turner makes $18 per hour, Capt. J.L. McElfresh is at $15 per hour and officers Chris Cooper and Matt Browning each make $13.50 per hour.
It has been proposed to change the police department employees from hourly to salaried. Clerk-Treasurer Terry Richey said the state approved a $140,000 appropriation to cover this year’s police department pay, and she’s asking that to be increased to $160,000 for 2018.
The officers and council plan to meet in executive session at 6 p.m. Aug. 29 at the town hall to further discuss the proposal.