At the June 21 city council meeting, Police Chief Blaise Sass reported on the continuing challenges he faces when trying to fill needed part-time shifts in the police department’s schedule.
The current part-time police officer wage was set in 2016 at $17 per hour. This is substantially below the average part-time wage of similar size departments in the area, which is about $22 per hour. Fillmore and Houston Counties also compete for part-time officers and offer about $26 to $29 per hour. Sass noted that part-time officers don’t receive other benefits.
The Preston Police Department, which also serves Lanesboro and Fountain, schedules about 1,600 part-time hours in a year. Sass suggested a two tier wage scale: $18 per hour during the initial training of an officer (about eight weeks) and $22.25 per hour after that time period. The regular part-time rate of $22.25 would be set at pay grade 7, step 1. This would allow the wage to increase with the regular cost of living adjustment. Sass added the pay increase would help him entice more good candidates.
The added cost to the annual budget for the police department will be about $8,400. The police budget is divided between the three cities: 61% Preston, 31% Lanesboro, and 8% Fountain. Preston’s share of the increased cost would be just over $5,000.
The part-time pay increase was approved unanimously effective July 1. City Administrator Joe Hoffman noted that with this increase and other scheduled salary increases there will be a 10% to 11% percent increase needed in the police budget for next year.
Other business in brief
•The Fillmore County Fair Board had requested the use of a city-owned empty lot on Fillmore St. across from the city shop to allow fair exhibitors to park livestock trailers. There was some discussion about ownership of the lot and restrictions that may have been put on the lot’s use by the former owner. Councilman Robert Maust asked about liability. A motion to allow the use of the lot for parking of livestock trailers during the fair as requested was approved. Maust voted no.
•Hoffman noted the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs prepared a feasibility study for a hybrid road alignment for the access to the veterans home. The city had not been pleased with the access road plan from the state design team as the city felt it allowed for an undesirable intersection of Windmill Rd. with Overlook Dr. The new hybrid plan is not exactly what the city asked for or what the design team had planned. It is a compromise allowing for a more controlled intersection on Overlook Dr. and should keep headlights from shining into homes on Overlook Dr. The revised design/feasibility study will now go to the contractor to determine the impact on the project budget.
•The Police Outside Employment Policy was approved as recommended by Chief Sass. This policy pertains to personnel of the police department who seek or presently hold employment in addition to their regularly assigned duties.
•The next council meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 6.