Effingham Daily News, Effingham, IL

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July 8, 2009

Council approves big raises

Angie Faller

With the city of Effingham facing budget problems, Effingham City Council members narrowly passed the annual appointment ordinance which sets the pay for city employees. Two commissioners voted against the ordinance because of the inclusion of some raises ranging from 11 to 17 percent. City Clerk Rick Goeckner said the city has seen revenue losses of $100,000 a month, largely due to a drop in motor fuel taxes.

Commissioner Alan Harris asked the council to table the matter until after the council had a chance to discuss it in closed session.

However, Commissioner Merv Gillenwater made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Larry Micenheimer, to approve the ordinance so city employees could receive cost-of-living raises.

“I think the people who are listed on this ordinance have gone a couple of months without cost-of-living increases. Even though there may be some increases in here I am not happy with, I make a motion that we pass this,” Gillenwater said.

The ordinance passed in a 3-2 vote after Mayor John Lange and Commissioners Gillenwater and Micenheimer voted in favor and Commissioners Karen Flach and Harris voted against.

“There’s some raises in there that need to be addressed in light of our budget woes. I’m not saying those people aren’t deserving of the raises, because they are, but we didn’t even discuss it,” Harris said.

The raises of six employees, in particular, total more than $60,000,

ranging from nearly $6,500 to close to $14,000 with percentage increases ranging from 11 percent to 17 percent.

Lange said all city employees deserved their raises. Some salaried employees were given raises to make up for the extra hours they worked and are not paid for, he said.

“We are just bringing them up to the pay grade that we believe was the right grade for them to be in. Compared to other people in the area, yes they were getting underpaid. We are actually compensating them for the hours they put in over the 40 hours in service to the city,” he said.

City Engineer Steve Miller’s salary increased nearly $14,000, from $81,764.80 to $95,617.60, an increase of 16.94 percent. City Clerk Rick Goeckner’s salary went from $75,940.80 to $84,718.40, a raise of $8,777.60 or 11.56 percent.

Both Effingham Fire Chief Joe Holomy and Effingham Police Chief Mike Schutzbach saw their salaries go from $74,131.20 to $84,718.40, an increase of $10,587.20 or 14.28 percent.

Economic Development Director Todd Hull’s salary will go from $70,616 to $80,579.20, an increase of $9,963.20 or 14.11 percent. Tourism/Marketing Director Kim Wiedman will see her salary increase from $41,300 to $47,745.50, an increase of $6,445.50 or 15.61 percent.

Lange said these raises have been in the works for two years, but have been put on hold due to labor contracts.

“It’s been something that has been going on for two years, and it needed to be settled. They do an exceptional service for the city and I think it was time to reward them for the services they’ve done that they haven’t been rewarded for for a long time,” he said.

City employees did receive a cost-of-living increase the previous year.

Angie Faller can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or angie.faller@effinghamdailynews.com.

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