Final city budget hinges on negotiations

McCOOK, Neb. -- Ongoing negotiations between city leaders and police and fire department union representatives have kept the upcoming annual pay increase for city employees something of an uncertainty this budget cycle. Unlike previous years when anticipated cost of living adjustments and wage increases were announced on the first reading of the budget and modified sparingly during subsequent readings, negotiations are still ongoing with police and fire union representatives and even the city manager's proposed pay increase will be an unknown until presented to City Council Tuesday evening.

Friday's agenda packet featured a blank-line where City Manager Nate Schneider's 12 month salary resides in the proposed ordinance which City Council will consider along with a recommendation from city staff to suspend the three-reading rule on the item. Schneider's current salary is $86,000 annually.

Prior to setting Schneider's pay for the 2015-16 budget year, City Council will coordinate a pair of executive sessions to strategize negotiations with the city police and fire department unions. Following the sessions councilors will consider resolutions ratifying collective bargaining agreements with three entities; the Fraternal order of Police, the Lieutenants Bargaining Unit and the Firefighters Bargaining Unit.

The agreement with the police union is anticipated to extend from Oct. 1, 2015 until Sept. 30, 2017. The agreement with the lieutenants union is anticipated to extend from Oct. 1, 2015 until Sept. 30, 2020. The agreement with the fire union is anticipated to extend from Oct. 1, 2015 until Sept. 30, 2020.

According to the meeting agenda, union members are scheduled to meet Friday and Sunday to finalize the agreements on their end, with potential for the collective bargaining items to be pulled from the City Council agenda if an agreement is not reached.

City Council approved a one-percent across the board cost-of-living wage increase for city employees, in addition to merit and longevity increases, during the first two readings of the 2015-16 fiscal year budget. Should that amount remain without modification Tuesday evening during the third and final reading of the budget, it would represent the lowest cost-of-living increase granted by City Council to city employees in years.

Other items on Tuesday's consent and regular agenda:

* A claim for $920 in damages from Dan Burns will be received and forwarded to the city's insurance carrier. The claim cites mileage, removal of dirt from around old footings, setting a string line and digging new footings, in addition to filling footings with dirt and leveling and other items occurring on Aug. 13, 2014. The claim does not provide a location where the work occurred, only a note indicating it was a building Burns had to stop work on.

* Awarding the paving bid for Industrial Park Road, east of Valmont, to BSB Construction of Curtis at $203,727 will be considered for approval.

* Bid specifications to replace approximately 380 feet of 6 inch water main on Centennial Drive will be considered for approval. A section of the pipe has already been replaced but the line continues to leak and is a risk to remove for fear the line will crumble and cause a loss of water to more than 30 homes, according to the meeting agenda. The leak is due to heavy corrosion discovered on the existing iron water main, stemming from corrosive soil in the area, which presents a long-term maintenance issue and prompted the need to replace the iron line with PVC piping.

* Councilors will consider approving several requests for special liquor licenses in the coming months. Loop Brewing Co. is requesting one for a "Dueling Pianos" performance on Oct. 24 and another for a class reunion on Sept. 26, both at Memorial Auditorium. The Knights of Columbus is requesting a special liquor license for a reception at Memorial Auditorium on Oct. 3. The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce is also seeking one for a Heritage Days Mixer at McCook National Bank on Sept. 23.

* The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce is requesting the use of Norris Park and the bandshell, in addition to closing portions of several streets in the area for various Heritage Days events.