The Chadron City Council approved its agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police Monday, implementing a new pay scale and other changes to the contract.
“I think the negotiations went extremely well,” said City Manager Tom Menke. “We stayed very focused on what we were doing.”
The pay scale approved for the next two years places base pay for entry level public safety telecommunications at $17.95 the first year and $18.58 the following year. Police officers at that same level will earn $22.81 an hour in 2023-24 and see an increase to $23.61 next year. Sergeants at step one on the scale will earn $26.10 the first year of the contract and $27.01 the second year.
Sgt. Mark Cloyd said the department is focusing on professionalism, retention and recruitment.
“We want to be competitive,” he said.The new agreement also tweaked several small items in the contract, such as raising the health fair participation reimbursement to $250.
In another personnel matter, the council was introduced to Katie Parks, the new deputy city clerk, who began her position last week. Parks has worked for the Chadron Police Department for the last five years.