City Council Votes For Wage Increase For Non-Union And Seasonal Staff

By Gordon HopkinsThe Fairbury City Council voted to approve wage increases for non-union and seasonal city staff at a meeting the evening of Tuesday, February 4, 2025.This comes two weeks after the city council voted for a 17 percent raise for union city staff.“The Personnel Committee met a while back, and we had a very long and in depth and rigorous discussion about fair wages,” said City Councilperson Bradley Kuzelka. “With the increase of the minimum wage and the competitive jobs that are out there, we came up with these numbers.”The council voted unanimously to approve the wage increases.After the vote, City Councilperson John Ebke said, “I’m just really happy that you guys recognize that that’s something that needs to be taken care of. Because I guess in the past, we didn’t realize how far behind we were on some of the stuff, like the pool. And it’s really good that we moved ahead, because obviously that’s an important part of our community during the summer.”Kuzelka said, “Hopefully the lifeguards will be abundant this year.” Seasonal StaffThe city’s seasonal staff are primarily employees at the Aquatic Center. On December 30, 2024, the City of Fairbury Personnel Committee met and discussed the 2025 seasonal wages, as they do annually.Given the increase in minimum wage to $13.50 per hour and the other local businesses’ increase in pay rates, the committee concluded it was necessary to raise wages to be competitive and attract summer staff. Non-Union StaffAll non-union staff received an eight dollar an hour increase.With the increase of Fairbury’s union staff, represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), consideration to non-union staff was discussed by the Personnel Committee on January 29, 2025. A review of each job description was held along with a review of the pay survey that is conducted by the Nebraska League of Municipalities.Non-Union staff include Public Works Superintendent- Tony Biehl, Electric Distribution Superintendent-Nate Francis, Water Superintendent-Gregg DeFrain, Wastewater Superintendent-Curtis Arnold, City Clerk/Treasurer-Erin Reimer, and Library Director- Debbie Aden.Non-union staff had previously been given a cost of living increase, approved by the city on October 1, 2024. Those increased were 3.5 percent for the Library Director, City Clerk, Public Works Director, Wastewater Superintendent, and a 10 percent increase for the Electric Distribution Superintendent.

New JCH&L CEO Knew The Value Of Rural Health Care At An Early Age

Barbara Borch

Related Articles

Praise and Pancakes

Shamrock Shuffle

Odell Resident Recognizes Bitcoin Message As ‘Smishing’ Scam

Steele City Holds Meeting on Water Main Project