BENTON – The Benton City Council Monday night unanimously approved increasing pay for the city’s paid, on-call firefighters.
Finance Commissioner Christopher Kays says a sliding pay scale will be used instead of minimum wage going forward. Kays recommended to the council that these firefighters be paid $3 more an hour.
Mayor Lee Messersmith says the increase lines up with his thinking on the matter and an employment package should be put together that includes training, a clothing allowance, and pay so that anyone current or new that comes on the fire department will know what they’re getting.
The council is expected to pass the package at its next meeting later this month.
Also at Monday’s meeting, the council approved seeking bids for a sewer main project on Carter Drive and replacing the storm siren at Benton Grade School, at a cost of around $36,000.
