Approval given for salary increases

By Jan White
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CROCKETT – At the City Council meeting on Nov. 7, council members voted to approve the additions and updates to the Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual. The pay plans and salaries for positions with the Police and Fire Departments and city workers were budgeted and approved during a previous meeting. However, since those increases required a tax rate change, there was still a window of time where the new tax rate could be contested, and if so, it would have to be voted on by public ballot. Because the 90-day period passed with no dispute, the council was able to approve the pay increases listed in the Personnel Manual. Also approved was the appointment of Rick Gilson to a Utility Supervisor position to help with the workload distribution of the Utility and Sewer Department.

Other agenda items included the purchase of a used 2003 Motorgrader from Precinct 2, which had acquired a new motor-grader, and approval of surplus items to be auctioned online or scrapped.

The council also voted to renew its lease with the Crockett Merchant’s Youth Baseball. Because the organization was formerly associated with the Little League, the lease with the city needed to be renewed. The renewed lease has a five-year term. City Administrator John Angerstein commended the Youth Baseball organization for being good tenants and told the Council that the Merchant’s Youth Baseball had spent some of their own time and money on improvements. Councilman Mike Marsh also thanked Joe Smoldas for being instrumental in helping make the baseball organization a success.

Diane Rhone, Courtney Yarbrough, and Elouise Wooten were reappointed as members of the Building and Standards Commission, and the council appointed Shannon Harris and Charles Arnold to replace retiring members, and assigned Scott Sheley as an alternate.

In other business, the council voted to allow the closure of Milam Avenue to accommodate a request by The Gathering Place. The local organization asked that Milam Avenue from North Fifth to North Fourth Street be closed on Nov. 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. so they can hold their Fall Festival in the downtown park across the street from City Hall.