7/12/2012 - South Side Leader
     

LAKEMORE — Individuals employed with the Village of Lakemore now are being compensated a little more for the workload they are carrying, despite the municipality’s ongoing financial woes.

According to Mayor Rick Justice, some village employees have received only one raise in the last eight years, and these individuals need to know they are valuable to the daily operations of Lakemore.

Council members unanimously approved raises for Department of Public Services (DOPS), Fire Department and administrative personnel during its July 9 meeting.

In concordance with the adopted legislation, the supervisor/foreman of DOPS will be compensated an hourly rate not to exceed $16.45, full-time laborers at an hourly rate not to exceed $15.35 and all other full-time DOPS employees at an hourly rate not to exceed $13, effective July 5.

“I think this is long overdue,” Coucilwoman Lori Strittmatter said.

In addition, fire personnel with basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training will receive a 1 percent increase in pay; personnel with intermediate level EMT training a 2 percent increase; and personnel with paramedic level training a 3 percent raise.

“This is long overdue, as well,” Justice said.

Justice added that the Lakemore Fire Department is one of the best, but also is one of the lowest-paying departments.

Councilman Tom Wolfe said he is hopeful the raises will encourage employees to stay with the department and increase their education through the increased compensation.

Also during the meeting, Council authorized the mayor to appoint current Fiscal Officer Rick Quay as interim administrator and current accounts clerk Tracy Fast as the interim assistant to the administrator.

The village suspended and later fired former village administrator Chad Pryor last year following a police investigation. He was charged with theft in office.

Justice has said the village is seeing a significant savings by not replacing Pryor, which provided the money necessary for the raises.

“These have been budgeted for,” he said.

Because they are taking on additional duties, Council agreed to award Quay $4,000 and Fast $2,000 while in their interim roles. Justice said Council would re-evaluate the interim positions and the compensation amounts at the end of the year to determine how to move forward.

At the start of the July 9 meeting, the mayor announced Quay had emergency surgery over the weekend, but his health was improving. Justice explained Quay could be absent from his duties for a while, and Council approved appointing Fast as interim fiscal officer.

Council also approved legislation accepting the resignation of Gene Bell as one of the village’s three zoning inspectors and authorizing an agreement with NAI Cummins Commercial Real Estate Services to market and lease the vacant Lakemore police facility.

Justice explained NAI Cummins would receive a 7 percent commission on the value of the lease its agents broker. If the village is able to work out an agreement with Springfield Local Schools or a governmental entity, the agreement would become null and void, he added.

Councilman Wendell Sommers said NAI Cummins estimates the empty building could be leased for about $4,000 a month. He added the village pays about $400 a month in utilities for the building currently, and these expenses would be taken over by the tenant.

In other business, Justice announced the village’s deficit in the General Fund is down $163,000 already this year, so he expects Lakemore will come out of fiscal emergency a little ahead of schedule, in about five years.

The next regular Lakemore Village Council meeting will be July 16 at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 1400 Main St.

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