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by Kim
Fickett
Landmark reporter
Preliminary approval for cost of living adjustments
to city employee salaries has been given.
Platte City Administrator Keith Moody presented
the board of aldermen with cost of living adjustments
to employee wages and benefits for consideration
at Tuesday evening's meeting.
According to Section 4.070:B of the city’s
personnel policy, “In coordination with the
adoption of the city’s fiscal budget, the
board of aldermen may consider...cost of living
adjustments to employee wages and benefits...based
on indexes unique to Platte City’s region
and line of service.”
The two indexes that are used to guide the development
of annual wage and benefit increases for employees
are the Consumer Price Index and Employment Cost
Index. The board of aldermen voted to accept the
preliminary wage and benefit increases. The preliminary
wages showed an increase of 30 cents to 40 cents
per hour.
"What we do is take that increase and slice
it into thirds, and depending on where the individuals
are at in the pay scale will determine the amount
of increase they will see,” said Moody.
For employees at the bottom of the pay scale
they would see a 40 cent increase, employees in
the middle of the pay scale would see a 35 cent
increase and employees at the top would receive
30 cents.
The board of aldermen will revisit the issue
when it’s time to adopt the budget for fiscal
year 2005 to make sure the raises fit within the
allotted budget.
"Tonight if they say yes it’s reasonable,
then we take those numbers and start plugging
them into each of the department’s budgets,”
Moody said Tuesday. “We’ll compare the
budgeted expenditures to our projected revenues.
Once they’re compared, then we must decide
if the increase is feasible.”
Preliminary approval was also given for the benefits.
Approval includes a $23 increase per month to
be effective June 2005. The effect on the 2005
budget is an increase of $3,680 in personnel cost
over what the city pays currently.
The new budget for fiscal year 2005 will be adopted
in mid-September.
Moody told the aldermen, “I believe these
items should be given preliminary approval so
they have a chance to be revisited when it’s
time to set the budget.”
In other items, the board awarded a bid to Restoration
and Water Proofing Contractors Inc. for $36,119
to complete tuck pointing and brick sealing at
the Civic Center.
Moody informed the board that there are funds
available to complete new window caulking in the
three story section and east section of the building.
Other future repairs for the building include:
masonry repairs to the east section, the three
story section, the gymnasium section, the west
section, and clean and seal at city hall.
Moody stated he anticipates budgeting for that
work in the 2005 budget.
In other matters:
•The city has previously agreed to be responsible
for developing a drainage easement along the course
of an open drainageway at the end of Hampton Drive.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Drake, the Hampton Condominium
Owners Association, and the Hampton Home Owners
Association have agreed to contribute $1,000 each
toward the improvement project. The Platte City
Development Corporation announced they will provide
the track hoe for the project.
Moody stated the estimated cost of the project
is $8,000, but with the track hoe being lent to
the project and the other contributions of money,
the city will now have just $1,500 in out-of-pocket
expenses.
•The board of aldermen also approved an
agreement with Boomerz Band to provide entertainment
at the End of the Trail Rally and Street Dance
on Friday, Sept. 10 and Saturday, Sept. 11. The
dance will take place both evenings from 7-11
p.m. on Main Street. The city agreed to pay the
band $1,600 for both evenings of entertainment.
It is estimated that between 5,000-10,000 people
are expected to attend the event.
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