Council Increased MVPD Wages at Jan. Meeting

Raising Police Wages

At the regular meeting of the Mountain View City Council on January 10, Alderman Punkie Stevenson proposed raising starting police wages to $15.50, and then increasing them after 90 days to $16 per hour. He pointed out that neighboring towns use a similar sliding scale for police wages and that the Mountain View Police Department has not been fully staffed since September 2019. A full staff would be eight full-time officers. At the time of this writing, there are five full time and one reserve officer at Mountain View Police Department, confirms Cadet James Wardrip. 

Having lost six officers in the last year, the police department has only spent 48% of their budgeted wages in the current fiscal year. According to the draft minutes of the City Council meeting, Alderwoman Judi Colter made a motion to increase the minimum starting wage as suggested. Stevenson seconded. The motion passed unanimously in a roll call vote.  

 

Proceeding with a Quorum

The January meeting began with full attendance of all four Aldermen but proceeded with a quorum despite newly ratified Alderwoman Laura Wagner’s medical emergency during the meeting. During the discussion of one her sponsored agenda items, Alderwoman Wagner requested a recess, but this request was denied by Mayor Donnie Pruett*. 

The meeting proceeded after Wagner left the meeting for the hospital. In a follow-up interview, Wagner reports she is now doing well and does not anticipate future interruption of her duties. Wagner said it may not have been apparent to the other Council members that she was experiencing a medical emergency at the time she requested a recess. 

 

Questioning the Consent Agenda

While considering the consent agenda, Alderwoman Wagner objected to the wording of an action item she sponsored. Mayor Pruett did not engage, instead asking her to contain her remarks to items on the consent agenda at that time. 

Alderwoman Wagner then wanted to address the contents of minutes of a closed session. Alderwoman Colter said the minutes of a closed session are not to be discussed in public. 

In an interview, Wagner clarified her concerns, “There were numerous things left out, and I wanted to touch base on that. If we are going to keep minutes, I want them to be a full accounting of the meeting. My thoughts were if we keep detailed minutes of closed session and they’re wrong, there’s not a good way to correct them as they are confidential… I’m trying to correct a few minor Sunshine Law issues that I’ve come across during my brief time as alderman.”

 

Golf Course Business

Council heard a presentation from Clear Creek Golf Carts offering replacement of the fleet of carts at the municipal golf course. Alderwoman Wagner began the discussion by again objecting to the way her item was worded on the agenda, namely “Alderwoman Wagner to discuss the purchase of new golf carts for golf course.” 

According to the draft minutes, Mayor Pruett said all he did was shorten what she said in an email.*

Wagner gave a follow-up interview and said “It’s our position as council members to see if the deal is a good idea for the city. I’m not going to immediately turn down someone without making sure all council members hear the request.”

Alderwoman Wagner said she sponsored the action item because Mayor Pruett refused the golf course superintendent’s request to present it at a City Council meeting.*

The draft minutes record Denny Cunningham, golf course supervisor, saying this proposal was given to the mayor three months ago but that “he chose to ignore it.”

Discussion ensued on the proposal to trade out the course’s fleet of used carts for new ones, but it was at this point that Alderwoman Wagner requested and was denied a recess. With her absence, there was still a quorum, and the remaining Aldermen voted to table the topic.    

The next action item was also on the subject of the golf course. Mayor Pruett discussed Ordinance # 1707, as Bill # 1337, which amends Chapter 26 of the city codes to require anyone who wants to reserve a spot in the golf cart shed to sign an agreement. Golf fees will not be changed under this ordinance. The ordinance passed unanimously. 

 

Grants Reviewed

Under old business, City Financial Officer Linda Higgins updated Council on the status of grants the City has received or expects to receive including sums earmarked for the airport, city pool, stormwater and sewer systems, and parks. The report included CARES Act and ARPA funds as well.  

 

From the audience at the end of the meeting, Murray Anderson asked about the leveling of the water and sewer rates. Alderwoman Colter said the City Finance Officer currently working on some formulas to do that.  Anderson requested a Facebook announcement explaining this. 

Alderman John Krasuski asked for Council packets to be provided on Wednesdays prior to the meetings. They are currently provided on Friday. The City Clerk agreed to do so. 

At a motion from Alderman Krasuski, the meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m.

 

* On January 11, Pruett told a reporter for this publication he will be refusing all future requests for interviews from Howell County News. A reporter for this publication was not present at the January 10 meeting. The mayor’s comments as recorded in the draft minutes are the source used here.