Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
(BEDFORD) - All Bedford City employees will receive a 2 percent salary increase if the council votes for a third passage of the salary ordinance.
The council passed the ordinance twice Tuesday night, but a third passage is needed before the ordinance will go into effect at the first of the year.
That vote will come at the council's September meeting.
This is the second request for raises in 5 years.
The council also voted twice on the passage of an ordinance that would establish elected officials salaries.
Those salaries reflect no increase, except for one member of the council who also serves on the planning board. That person Bryon Buker will see a 2 percent increase.
The council also added to new positions, a director of operations, which will be filled by Kyle Brown and an assistant planning commissioner, which will be filed by Mel Rile
Both men work for the city, but have taken on added responsibility and their pay will go from an hourly rate to a salary position.
"The director of operations will have the authority to take actions on issues in my place if for some reason I am not here," said Mayor Shawna Girgis.
The council only did two passages of each ordinance so community members would have an option to voice any concerns about the increases before the final passage in September.
In other business:
* The council approved the reduction of appropriations in preparing for the budget.
* The council approved the proposed additional appropriation for Harp Commons Grant Fund. The city received a grant of $50,000 from the Office of Tourism and the city must match that grant dollar for dollar.
* The council approved the transferring of funds for the Bedford Fire Department so they can purchase a set of air bags.
"The bags the department is currently using are 10 years old and are a safety hazard," said Fire Chief Jon Wagner.
The bags are used to lift vehicles off of a person trapped underneath.
The council also approved the transferring of funds so the department could purchase 2 rehab fans.
"The fans are like what you see during an NFL game," Wagner said. "They are in a 32 inch container that will blow a mist of cool water on firefighters and they drop the temperature about 30 degrees. It really is a necessity during extreme temperatures."
* Mayor Shawna Girgis did a presentation of the trade mission trip to China and Japan.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.