Six city department heads will get over $27,000 in pay raises

The seven members of the Decorah City Council, meeting Monday evening as a Personnel Committee, have agreed to changes in the salary structures of six city department heads that will hand out a total of $27,376 in raises next year.

Police Chief Bill Nixon, City Clerk Wanda Hemesath, Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Mike O'Hara, Water/Sewer Superintendent Todd Ihde, Recreation Superintendent Erika Randall and Park Superintendent Scott Ihde will be getting additional pay raises in order to raise their salaries to the medians paid in similarly-sized communities in Iowa.

City officials had originally spoken about raising salaries to above the median, but decided instead for what Personnel Committee Chair Kirk Johnson called "a pretty modest proposal."

Of the $27,000 in additional expense, over $16,000 will come from the city's general fund, while just under $11,000 will come from sewer or water fees.  City council members Monday night did not vote on the pay raises, but told City Administrator Chad Bird to put the higher figures into the proposed 2017-2018 city budget, which will be discussed in January.