Tuesday, November 28th, 2017
St. Henry workers granted raises
By Tom Stankard
ST. HENRY - Village employees could receive pay raises in 2018 with the average increase being nearly 3 percent.
Council members on Monday gave first reading of the resolution. If passed after third reading, village administrator Ron Gelhaus said salaries for 2018 would include a one-time payment of $5,137 for mayor Steve Koesters, $52,063 per year for fiscal officer/village tax administrator Ruth Miller and $58,867 annually for police chief Bob Garman.
Other annual salaries would be for Gelhaus, $67,651; public works superintendent Bob Borgerding, $54,813; and public utilities superintendent Stan Sutter, $53,393.
Councilors gave first reading of a separate ordinance to reappoint attorney Richard Delzeith as village solicitor at a rate of $900 per month.
Members also gave first reading of a resolution to authorize temporary appropriations to cover any expenses in 2018 until the final budget can be approved.
Also on the agenda, second reading was given of a resolution to construct certain sidewalks and driveway approaches in the village.
Gelhaus said the village tries to complete a sidewalk project every year. The project for 2018 will be on the east side of town from State Route 118 to the water plant. Property owners have until July 31 to have the sidewalks installed, according to Gelhaus, or village employees will install the walks. The residents then can pay up front the amount due or have the cost assessed on their property taxes over three years.
Gelhaus thanked the village's community club for financing a perimeter fence at the pool at a cost of about $40,000.
"They are a great civic organization that has done well for the village," he said. "Kudos to them. We couldn't do a lot of stuff around here without those folks."
Construction of the pool is on schedule, he added.
"The floor of the pool is poured and complete. That was a big milestone," he said.
Final branch and leaf pickup will be the first week of December, Gelhaus announced.
"I ask folks to get out there and get it done if they can," he said.
