Jourdanton council approves pay increase ahead of budget hearing

Pleasanton Express
By Pleasanton Express Staff  
September 14, 2022
CADE ANDREWS
STAFF REPORTER


First Baptist Church Community Life Pastor Brad Trosen is presented a certificate
from Jourdanton Mayor Robert “Doc Williams after leading the prayer at the
Sept. 5 council meeting
CADE ANDREWS | PLEASANTON EXPRESS

​​​​​​​Om Sept. 5, with all council members present, the City of Jourdanton moved forward with pertinent city business ahead of their budget workshop.

Council member Chester Gonzales motioned to approve an ordinance regarding new waste collection to include a 4% franchise fee due to the city. The motion was seconded by council member Raul Morales and approved by a 4-1 vote with council member Patsy Tymrak- Daughtrey voting against. As listed in the ordinance, the city didn’t include the 4% franchise fee on the customer’s utility bill during the first few years of their agreement.

Ahead of their budget workshop, agenda item 3.5 and 3.6 discussed a possible pay increase for city employees and how the increase would be funded. Mayor Robert ‘Doc’ Williams kicked off the discussion vouching for a 6% pay increase. All council members were in agreement that a pay increase should be included in the budget. Due to the rising costs of inflation, council member Karen Pesek recommended the employees receive an 8% pay increase and include signing on bonuses to encourage them to stay.

“We’re out a code compliance person, we’re out the finance person, they all left for more money,” Pesek stated. “Every one of them left for a job making more money. Having said that, inflation is around nine percent. Six percent is not going to even cover that. In our [previous] budget, our employees got a three percent cost-ofliving increase. There has not been a cost-of-living increase the previous three years. That was not even playing catch up in that budget. My recommendation is going to be eight percent. We just have to be able to hire employees and keep the ones that we do have here that are willing to work and want to stay.”

The council voted 4-1 in favor of a 6% pay increase followed by a motion from Pesek and a second from Morales. Tymrak- Daughtrey voted against after stating a 3% increase was more likely.

Due to a lack of a quorum, the Sept. 12 meeting was called off with the absence of two council members. Pesek notified the council of her absence prior to the meeting. Tymrak Daugtrey was absent for the second time in the last four meetings without notifying the council. The next regularly scheduled council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. They will also conduct a public hearing for the proposed budget on Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. in Jourdanton City Hall.