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Council OKs union contract
(by Andrea Cordle, Southwest Editor - June 10, 2010)
Grove City Council approved a contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1116 at the June 7 meeting.
The union contract covers 21 city employees, mostly from the service department. The previous contract expired at the end of April.
The employees will receive a 6.5 percent salary increase over the next three years. Employees will get a 2 percent increase this year, 2.5 percent increase in 2011 and 2 percent in 2012. The extra funds amount to approximately $150,000 over the next three years.
"We feel this is fiscally responsible," said Mike Wasylik, safety director for Grove City.
Wasylik said the wage increases are competitive with other municipalities in central Ohio.
The AFSCME union was in agreement with the contract. The city administration and the union began meeting in March. Wasylik said the two parties were able to "wrap things up" in four meetings.
"Overall it was a very positive negotiating experience," said Wasylik.
There was no change in health insurance under the new contract. There was an added injury policy in the contract. The safety director said the city had no policy in place on injured service employees.
Wasylik said since it was new, "it was a rather conservative injury policy."
Council also agreed to set aside $79,000 from the general fund and $15,350 from the police pension fund to implement the contract with the Fraternal Order of Police. This would fund the FOP agreement for this calendar year.
Fryer Park water tank
Council approved a measure to appropriate $3.1 million from the water fund to construct the Big Run/Fryer Park water tank.
The tank would hold approximately 1.25 million gallons of water to improve the city's public water system, serving the southern portions of the city. It would replace the existing tank on Seeds Road and provide additional water storage.
The water tank is part of the city's 20-year plan. In the last 10 years, the city has invested in extending the water main under Interstate 71 and constructing the State Route 665 water booster station to support the tank.
The ordinance was passed as an emergency. City Administrator Phil Honsey said council needed to pass the measure as an emergency because there is a six to seven-month delay in purchasing steel. It takes several additional months to erect the water tower.
The city wants to begin construction as soon as possible so the tank could be functional by the fall of 2011.
The tank would also expand sewer and water at Fryer Park so the city can update its restroom facilities at the park.
Bio-purchasing policy
Council approved a resolution expressing interest in implementing a bio-preferred purchasing policy.
Bio-based products are composed of biological products, renewable domestic agricultural or forestry materials. The city wants to incorporate the natural-made products into the daily operations to protect the environment and reduce dependence on foreign oil.
The bio-based products could replace petroleum or chemical-based products used in the city.
The resolution is part of the city's effort to be green, while supporting Ohio agriculture.
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