Mount Vernon’s salaries were set for the coming fiscal year.
For non-union staff, salary increases this year are 5 percent. City administrator Chris Nosbisch explained that the deviation for those increases was for his own salary, which the council had approved a difference for last year. Mayor Tom Wieseler explained that salary increase of $8,000 for Nosbisch was to help bring the position in line to comparable rates for other city administrators.
Police chief Doug Shannon’s salary will increase from $105,201.52 to $110,461.60.
Public works staff salaries for Eldon Downs will increase from $87,126.40 to $91,482.72, while Alex Volkov’s will increase from $87,122.21 to $91,478.32.
Nosbisch’s salary will increase from $125,290.67 to 133,290.67, Lori Boren’s from $92,925.04 to $97,521.29, Marsha Dewell’s from $88,280.73 to $92,694.77, Leigh Bradbury’s from $52,690 to $56,374.50 and Joee Jennison’s from $57,229.87 to $60,091.36.
At parks and recreation, Matt Siders salary will increase from $79,272.70 to $83,236.34, Sarah Boots from $58,542.75 to $61,469.89 and Katey Forrest’s from $4,449.13 to $46,671.59.
On the fire department, Nathan Goodlove’s salary will increase from $17,811.88 to $18,702.47, Derek Boren’s from $5708.94 to $7,494.39.
Jacob Buster’s salary increased from $1,141.90 to $7,494.39. Nosbisch explained that was because he was an assistant chief and served as Emergency Management Association liaison for the city and to bring salaries of both assistant fire chief salaries in line with one another.
City administrator Chris Nosbisch said that the negotiating with unions established a 5 percent increase this year, a 4.5 percent increase in fiscal year 2025 and a 4 percent increase for 2026.
“I’m happy that we have a three-year contract with our unions worked out,” Nosbisch said.
One of the items that was corrected was officers from the former Lisbon Police Department have the correct years of service noted in their contracts and the relevant salaries for their experience.
While the police and fire union can negotiate insurance benefits, other union city employees can not bargain for those items, and that language was removed from those union handbooks.
The health insurance premium only went up 3.25 percent this year because the city joined an organization with more members in pooling health insurance.
Council member Scott Rose said that if the city had not been part of that organization, insurance increases for the city’s premium would have been north of 15 percent.
Levy rate hearing April 1
The council set a public hearing date for the city’s levy rate for Monday, April 1 at 6 p.m.
City administrator Chris Nosbisch said he will present the information that is usually presented during the budget hearing at that time.
This is a change as requested from the state this ear, with the county auditor’s office sending information on the increasing levy rates to citizens ahead of the hearings and notifying of the date of the public hearings.