Council Discusses Employee Pay Adjustments

Community, Lifestyle

DAHLONEGA, Ga.- City Manager Bill Schmid brought the City Council a request to consider an allocation of funds for an adjustment in the employee pay rates.

Planning Administrator Jameson Kinley also brought before the council the 2022 amended comprehensive plan. Finance Director Allison Martin informed the council of a new leak protection program that they can vote in place at the next meeting.

City Manager Bill Schmid while explaining to the council the need for the employee pay adjustment.

The last time the city did an employee fee adjustment was in Oct. of 2020. Due to a 9.9% inflation increase, Schmid felt that this was a good time to request the council to consider the allocation of funds. The request is for a 4 to 7% increase.

If the 7% increase is met it will cost $150,974.63. This is to allow the employees the cost of living pay. The city conservatively budgets every year so there are funds available for this increase and will not adversely affect the budget. The council will vote on this at their Apr. 4 meeting.

Every five years the Department of Community Affairs DCA for short requires cities do a comprehensive plan update. This is a chance for the community to voice what they want the city to look like in the next 25 to 50 years. The county also does one and to view theirs visit https://lumpkin.fetchyournews.com/2022/02/02/commissioners-review-2022-comprehensive-plan-draft/.

The plan is broken up into three areas community vision, development strategy, and implementation. This is to keep the city looking to the future and working towards its goals.

Kinley shared that they had many public meetings for the community to provide input on the plan. To view the current plan visit https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/dahlonega-pubu/MEET-Packet-0391d6b9167e45308a070f2234ff9686.pdf, it begins on page 19. The council will also vote on this in their next meeting.

The city currently makes adjustments to water and sewer bills when there is a leak. On average the city makes 150 adjustments per year. With this in mind, staff sought out a new means of handling leaks. They found Servline Leak Protection Program.

This would be a four-dollar increase to the consumer’s bill with the option to opt-out if they do not wish to pay for the service. However, if they do opt-out then the customer will have to pay for the leaks themselves with no bill adjustment from the city.

Martin will be able to set up meetings for the council members so they can fully understand the program and its implications before taking action. If the council chooses to approve the plan the program will show up on the next bill after the vote.

“I think these can be some very challenging, very argumentative so for the safekeeping of our staff reducing the amount of negativity that comes in trying to resolve these things, this really helps alleviate a lot of this,” commented Councilmember Ron Larson.

Troy Armstrong while going to accept his award from the council.

Mayor JoAnne Taylor started the meeting off by presenting Troy Armstrong with an award from The Sunshine Rotary Club for his hard work and dedication to the city. Armstrong was present to receive the award.

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