Florence City Council: Pay period will change
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
Florence city employees will begin Nov. 1 to receive their wages every other Wednesday instead of twice a month, Florence City Council decided Monday evening.
The new pay period will begin on a Monday and run through the next Sunday. Employees will receive their pay for that period the following Wednesday.
The issue was brought up several weeks ago by councilman Bryan Harper who said he had had complaints from some employees. Those individuals preferred to be paid on the same day every two weeks instead of having an irregular pay period based on the mid-point and end of the month.
City clerk Darla Gore expressed support for the measure, saying it would be mean a more efficient system for her when issuing paychecks.
After discussion the proposal carried three to one on a motion by Harper. Councilman Randy Mills voted against the measure.
In other business the council:
— approved a $25 per year membership to Dig Safe-One Call.
— approved warrant 2006-19 in the amount of $21,295.69.
— heard from Mayor Sue Klassen that PRIDE, Florence Chamber of Commerce, Florence Library, the fire department, and ambulance crew will sponsor a "Stringtown Halloween Festival" the evening of Oct. 29. Plans are still developing, but the groups hope to have games and "scary fun" for young children as well as hayrack rides and more spooky events for older kids. Stringtown is the area east of the Fourth Street bridge over the Cottonwood River.
— requested police chief Erik King have his officers step up patrol activity around the school at the time of dismissal. Individual councilmen have received complaints of students walking in the middle of the street and riding their bikes too fast down the hills on Sixth and Eighth streets. King agreed to have a better presence at the school, but cautioned councilmen that as long as bike riders do not exceed 20 mph the officers cannot stop them for "going too fast."
— heard from city superintendent Phil Bowen that he has been gathering information on coin-operated and card-swipe meters to facilitate the operation of bulk water sales by the city. He plans a presentation to council members at a future meeting.
— approved an expenditure for supplies at the water treatment plant and the $160/day rental of a machine to fill cracks in the streets.
— heard that city employees have been trimming trees, have the swimming pool covered for the season, and have the park restrooms winterized. Baldwin will have his men working on stump removal at parks and on city property.
— heard there is a problem with the Eighth Street "dogleg" from the roundabout. Residents in the area say semi tractor-trailer drivers are getting confused and taking the 8th Street exit and then finding themselves unable to navigate the city streets to get back onto the roundabout or U.S.-50.
Harper said one citizen told him that a truck had turned around in the former high school football field on Eighth. Mills noted the council had a meeting with KDOT representatives a week ago and this topic was broached. The state will erect signs at the Eighth Street exit prohibiting truck traffic.
— entered a 10 minute executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel. No action was taken on return to open meeting.
