The city’s budget increased to $6,182,156 for 2014 from $5,692,717 for 2013, with the Fire Department budget increasing the most. Members of the Pea Ridge City Council approved the budget at the November council meeting. The budget was discussed in detail previously at a council committee of the whole meeting.
All city employees will receive an end of the year merit award. Full-time employees will receive $300 and parttime employees will receive $150.
“Where does the Fire Department fall in that?” Nadine Telgemeier, council member, asked.
“They’re volunteers,” Sandy Button, city clerk, said.
“At what point does that getchanged? I think we should have a discussion on that. As we’re growing … they need to be part of the city,” Telgemeir said.
Mayor Jackie Crabtree said that salaries for Fire Department personnel are considered contract labor but that will change when a full-time chief is hired.
“I’m in the process of fi nding someone to replace him,” Crabtree said of Fire Chief Frank Rizzio announcing that he plans to retire the end of November. He said he had two prospects - Jamie Baggett and Dino Collins - but may also consider someone from outside the department.
“This is predominantly an elected position,” Crabtree said, explaining that traditionally, the fi refi ghtershave elected the chief of the department. He said that since the department is in the transition of “possibly going ALS” (advanced life support), he plans to hire the fire chief using the results of the election as one of the criteria. He said the fi re chief will be a department head of the city.
“We’re going to expect a lot more,” Steve Guthrie, councilman, said. “He will have to come to meetings;
the old one never had to. Ofcourse, we weren’t paying him much either.”
On Monday, Nov. 25, Crabtree named Jamie Baggett as fi re chief.
In other business at the Council meeting, councilmen:
◊Appointed Howard Slinkard city attorney at the same rate as last year, $175 an hour;
◊Appointed Richard Hardwick prosecuting attorney at the same rate as last year, $750 a month;
◊ Approved pay for City Council and Planning Commission members.
News, Pages 1 on 12/11/2013