Council approves wage increase for non-union city employees
Council met for an Executive Session on Monday, July 15, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the “purchase of property.” They then went into a Study Session to discuss recommended wage increases for non-union city employees and their impact on the city budget.
The recommendations were based on comparing Tipp City government job positions and wages with the positions and wages in similar, nearby communities.
Specific recommendations were:
· Move the Records Supervisor into a higher salary tier
· Provide a blended wage rate for the City Planner/Zoning Enforcement/Code Enforcement position, which is typically treated elsewhere as three separate full-time positions
· Create two new positions in the Tipp Police Department - Police Captain and Police Specialist
· Reclassify the Human Resources Generalist position to Human Resources Manager due to expanded duties for this position
· Raise the Water/Wastewater Superintendent and Public Works Superintendent positions to the Electric Superintendent’s salary level.
· Mid-year 2024 wage increase followed by a three-year wage increase program in 2025, 2026, and 2027 to bring Tipp City wages in line with similar, nearby communities.
The recommendations were based on the need to have competitive wage rates to attract future city employees in a tightening labor market.
Council President Katherine Huffman questioned, with council member Ryan Liddy, if “reclassifying” the Human Resources position was appropriate. Was it a new position that should be posted, like any other new one? Liddy also asked if the two new police positions and proposed wage increases were really needed. Was Tipp City having trouble hiring people, he asked. Huffman and Liddy wanted to know why this comprehensive wage increase couldn’t wait until “budget day” to be reviewed when Council members would have an entire day to analyze and discuss it.
With time running out, Council members left the Study Session and convened their regular meeting, where they would vote on the two Ordinances related to the Study Session topics.
Council members then approved three ordinances:
· Create two new positions in the Tipp Police Department, Police Captain and Police Specialist. Reclassify the Human Resource Generalist position to Human Resource Manager. Huffman, Liddy, and Joanna Pittenger voted no; four council members, John Kessler, Logan Rogers, Doug Slagel, and Greg Enslen, voted yes.
· Update the City’s pay and benefit schedules effective in 2024 for all City employees not covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement. Future increases will be reviewed annually for 2025, 2026, and 2027. Huffman, Liddy, and Pittenger voted no; Kessler, Rogers, Slagel, and Enslen voted yes.
· Approve the Final Plan/Plat of the 22-acre Summit Landing Subdivision, Section 2, which will contain 60 single-family residential lots, located on the east side of Peters Road, north of Windmere, Woodlawn, and Oak Lea subdivisions.
Council Members also approved three Resolutions:
· Authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Coate Construction, West Milton, for Kyle Park’s parking improvements project, for a cost of $93,301. The project will add 89 new parking places at Kyle Park.
· Authorize the City Manager to submit an application to the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) State Capital Improvement Program and/or the Local Transportation Improvement Program to secure funds for the Kerr Road Rehabilitation Project. Kerr Road is just south of Tipp City Veterinary Hospital and runs west from 25A to Peters Road.
· Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the Miami County Commissioners for a Community Development Block Grant of $73,000 to be used to construct 23 ADA-compliant pedestrian curb ramps at 10 intersections within Tipp City, which will contribute $8,500 to the project.
Council approved the Tipp City Tree Board’s Annual Plan*, and then adjourned.
*Tree Board Annual Plan:
· Work with city staff to continue Tree Hang Tag Project, and remove signs that have been damaged
· Continue review of Planting and Removal applications from property holders (city provides mulching and pruning guides to new tree recipients)
· Review the tree ordinance for possible changes
· Continue to update Tree Street Inventory and the arcGIS app
· Develop and utilize a tree planting plan with priority given to residents’ approved tree planting requests over general planting
· Promote Arbor Day, April 26, 2025
· Meet standards for 41st Tree City USA
· Report the previous year’s accomplishments to City Council
· Continue to prepare periodic news articles for the Tippecanoe Gazette
· Make at least one annual presentation to a civic organization
· Continue removal of all invasive Callery Pear trees on public grounds per ODNR’s new ban on selling, growing, or planting them in Ohio, and continue a long-term replacement program
· Review and fulfill Growth Grant requirement