Caledonia Argus

Council approves agreement with police

Posted: 3/2/04

by Jane Palen
Managing Editor

The city council approved an agreement with the Caledonia Police Association at its meeting of February 23. The agreement was the result of a mediation session held February 13.

Under the agreement, the pay scale for police officers starts at $15.12 per hour in 2004 and in 2005 will start at $15.63. The beginning rate in 2003 was $14.62 per hour. At the mid-range, step 3, the rate is $17.64 per hour for 2004 and $18.15 per hour for 2005, up from $17.14 for 2003. At the top of the scale, step 6, the rate for 2004 is $20.53, an increase of 50 cents over the rate for 2003. In 2005, the top of the scale will be $21.04 per hour.

Other items in the contract include an increase in the night shift differential from $1.10 to $1.15 per hour, and an increase in the uniform allowance from $575 per year to $600.

Officers hired this year will pay 10 percent of the family portion of the group health insurance. Currently, all the city officers are single.

In 2005, the night shift differential will increase to $1.20 per hour and stand-by pay will increase from $3.75 to $4 per hour. Base rates will increase by 2.5 percent against the top scale.

The police chief is not a part of the police association.

The council approved the agreement 3-1. Randi Vick, Paul Fisch and Robert Burns voted ìyesî, and John Klug was the ìnoî vote. Councilman Mark Schiltz was absent from the meeting.

In a related item, the council approved the hiring of Derek Lanning as a police officer. He replaces Heath Dienger, who accepted a position with the Minnesota State Patrol. Lanning is currently with the Goodview and Chatfield Police Departments and holds a degree in criminal justice and law enforcement from Winona State University.

Old school rezoned

In other news from the city, the council agreed to rezone the area on which the former elementary school stands from R-2 (residential) to B-2 (central business district). The area consists of 2.54 acres.

Michael and Dawn Nanof, who own half of the building, told the council that they have plans to create retail and office space in the building. A gymnastics school currently operates out of the building. There were no comments on the rezoning request at a public hearing held during the February 23 council meeting. The council passed the rezoning proposal 4-0.

The council also heard an update on plans for the 2004 sesquicentennial, and approved a $500 expenditure for Chamber of Commerce dues.

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