City tables raises

By: 
Leslie Silverman

The Hill City Common Council approved Scooter Prosneski for another five-year term to the Planning and Zoning Commission at its Nov. 28 meeting.
Aldermen also approved a request from Tim Johnson for a conditional use permit on the property at 641 Main Street.
The two-story six-unit property was  initially built for mixed use but since 2007 has been long term residential housing. There are four units on the second level and two on the lower level.
Johnson will use the property as luxury nightly rentals, known as the High Line Inn. The lot is zoned as C1 and does not conflict with the comprehensive plan. There is adequate parking and there was no objection from neighboring owners.
Johnson called the property “a little bit different.”
A supplemental appropriations ordinance for $37,369.70 for the purposes of “promoting the city”  was approved.
“They met the budget in the year they requested it,” said city finance officer Stacia Tallon. “It’s just we’re over the amount we planned to bring in from our reserves.”
Tallon presented several spreadsheets outlining possible wage increases for city employees.
She grouped amounts by percentages and also by individual position with  cost of living adjustment (COLA) amounts already approved for January.
“The numbers are there in black and white,” she said. “It’s up to you if you want to do anything.”
The spreadsheets show a 1 percent raise would add nearly $12,000 to the city budget while a 3 percent raise would increase the budget by close to $37,000.
An increase of $1/hour  and the COLA would bring the  lowest paid  position in town to  $12.25/hour and the highest to $42.50/hour.
Alderman Jason Gillaspie wanted to know how much the city was paying for employee insurance.
“That’s another benefit that would help a person,” Gillaspie said.
Tallon explained the city pays 100 percent of health care for employees at a cost of $900 per employee, but families are not covered.
The council chose to table the matter. Alderman Dale Householder  had just received the information and wanted to look at it further. President Carl Doaty was still trying to “decipher it.”
A charitable lottery request for Jewel of the West to raffle a wool blanket for the ambulance fund was approved. The raffle will run from Dec. 1 thru April 1.
The official work order was received from the state to move forward on the Museum Drive bridge project.
From now until April 2023 the city will brainstorm and decide what type of bridge to erect, with the input of Mickelson Trail agencies.
The next HCCC takes place Dec. 12 at 5:30 pm at City Hall.

 

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