The City Council on Thursday night voted to authorize an increase in the extra duty hourly rates for hiring off duty police officers. This increase in rates will bring the Police Department in line with agencies comparable in size and activity in this region.
The new rates, which will take effect on Dec. 1, will increase the officer rate from $30 to $40, the supervisor rate from $35 to $45 and the command supervisor rate from $40 to $50.
The holiday rate (New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas) will go from zero to $50.
When police vehicles are requested for assignments, there will be an hourly charge of $10. Currently, there is no charge.
The Police Department requested the higher rates as an incentive for officers to work off duty assignments.
In other matters, City Council voted to:
- Appoint Eugene Jackson to the Airport Commission and Anna Kautzman tor the Utility Commission.
- Reappoint Russell Reynolds and T. Neal Morris the Industrial Development Authority.
- Grant a special use permit at 3230 Riverside Drive. The permit waives yard requirements in order to develop a fast food restaurant.
- Grant a special use permit for urban agriculture at 598 Elizabeth St. The permit allows the applicant to keep chickens.
- Rezone a portion of 188 Stokesland Ave.
- Rezone a portion of 3311 Riverside Drive to allow the former K-mart to be subdivided and redeveloped for self-storage use.
- Grant a special use permit to waive yard requirements for the K-mart project
- Rezone a parcel at 116 Maplewood St. The applicant proposes to warehouse, store, and manufacture lighting fixtures and accessories.
The City Council also held first readings for the appropriation of HUD funds, bond proceeds, and grants for foodservice operations and monitoring, outreach and prevention programs at W.W. Moore Jr. Detention Home.
A first reading is an introductory step required by City Code before some issues can be voted upon by the City Council. This step serves to provide public notice of pending action. The City Council can vote on these matters at its next meeting.
The meeting was held on Thursday to avoid conflicting with Election Day. The City Council regularly meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.