City Council meets; discuss airport authority board vacancy, employee insurance and city sales tax increase

By Alan Carman
The Imperial Republican
    Monday, May 4, the Imperial City Council held their regular meeting in the council chambers. John Miller, Jan Elliott and Julie Gockley were present, Nick Colton was absent.
    A motion was made by Gockley and seconded by Elliott to approve the minutes of the April 20 and 30 city council and the
April 27 meeting of the Senior Services. Motion passed 3-0.
    The mayor notified the board that Nolan Spady has resigned from the airport authority board, leaving a spot open for anyone seeking to be on the board.
    Discussion was held on changing the vesting time-line for city employee retirement. After some discussion, the council moved to approve the change from seven years to three years before employees are fully vested.
    Renewal for the city’s LIGHT insurance for employees was next on the agenda. The city had considered changing plans and having city employees pay for their own vision and dental portion. They were also looking at cutting the life insurance benefit back from $50,000 to $25,000.
    After some discussion with several city employees in attendance, the council decided to keep paying for the employees vision and dental and to go with option one of the city’s choices. They also decided to leave the death benefit at $50,000.
    The city premiums will go up from $40,725.55 a month, to $46,968.81 per month. The council said they would dig in and try to find other ways to cut expenses, instead of cutting back on the employees benefits.
    The council had been asked by a local farmer if they would change the border of the City’s utility territory, After some discussion, the board decided not to change the border.
    Discussion was held that Public Works Superintendent will be retiring the first part of next year. The council decided to start advertising for that position.
    The City sales tax is up for renewal. The board discussed whether to put it on the General Ballot in November or have a Special Ballot in July so they wouldn’t miss out on the first quarter of the physcal year.
    The council will also decide if they want one or two options to vote on. Many of the municipalities surrounding us have raised their sales tax to 2.0 percent.
    The council discussed putting one question on the ballot for a 1.5% sales tax and then another option to increase the sales tax by another 0.5%. After some discussion, the council decided to table the decision until their next meeting when Nick Colton will also be in attendance.
    The council discussed Ordinance 26-05-01, Removal of Jo Leyland and wages set for Cemetery Sexson. A motion was made to approve Ordinance 26-05-01 as read. Motion passed 3-0. Motion was made to skip the second and third reading of the ordinance and go to final passage of the Ordinance. Motion passed 3-0.
    Public comment was held with many of the City employees thanking the board for not cutting back their benefits. The meeting adjourned at 6:57.