Assistant city manager position added to budget

McCOOK, Neb. — The 2021-22 City of McCook budget includes funds in anticipation of the new employee position of assistant city manager.

The salary for the position is budgeted at $93,345, according to the preliminary budget. A full job description is pending as to what the position would entail, said City Manager Nate Schneider.

The McCook City Council unanimously approved the Employee Classified and Pay Plan for 2021-22.

Other personnel changes in the budget are the creation of an E-911 office coordinator, that will be filled by a current employee at the police department; the re-classification of equipment operator/groundskeeper for Public Works, which takes into account necessary skills required above and beyond what is included in the current job description and the addition of a Utilities Service Technician I at the water department. This position would not be funded from the budget’s general fund but from the enterprise fund of water, which operates with revenue from customer water sales.

The recent wage analysis study caused adjustments to the city’s employee pay scale in the budget this year, Schneider told the council, with minimum and maximum wages for each position adjusted to reflect the findings of the study. Starting wages will become more competitive and increases to maximum wages will allow long-term employees who have been unable to progress up the pay scale due to the wage cap will now be able to receive merit pay advancements, he said.

Employee wages include a 2% cost of living increase and merit wage increases of up to 2.5 % to eligible employees.