WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Colon municipal officials are debating whether to raise the hourly rate for newly hired police officers.
During Tuesday’s village council meeting, interim village manager Tom Tenney said a proposed starting rate of $15 an hour is being considered. The current starting hourly rate is $13.
Sgt. Joel Herr said he and chief Mark Brinkert are hoping to get some help after two officers resigned last month to take jobs elsewhere. That leaves one full-time post and one part-time job vacant at the moment, with no sign of help on the horizon, Herr said.
Tenney asked the council to refrain from voting on the raise until at least next month. He explained that the village is trying to get its finances in order and work on a new fiscal-year budget, a process that he would like to see completed before a higher rate of pay is authorized.
He said there are a number of big-ticket items – including salary for a new village manager and the cost of a new village hall, for example – that need to be considered when setting a new budget.
Herr said the sheriff’s department and central dispatch are provided a copy of the department’s work schedule so deputies know when there is no local patrol.
