Dierks City Council approves budget including 5 percent raise for all employees

Monday night, the Dierks City Council voted to accept a bid in the amount of $9,200 for the purchase of tornado sirens. The sirens will now be purchased and installed when they are delivered to the city.

Dierks Police Chief John McKee requested the council approve an increase in the hourly pay for Investigator Turner Reed to $19.93. McKee said Reed has been serving as the department’s investigator, but was not receiving the investigator hourly pay amount. McKee said Reed has proven himself to be a good investigator and will continue to be an asset to the department.

Aldermen unanimously approved the pay increase.

While discussing the 2023 budget, Mayor Ronnie Cogburn recommended a 5 percent pay raise for all city employees, which was approved in the 2023 budget. Aldermen also voted to double their monthly pay to $150.

Aldermen voted to increase the amount that the city puts into a police vehicle depreciation account for the purchase of future police department vehicles.
Cogburn also informed the council that a rate analysis was be conducted this year for the water and sewer departments.

Prior to Monday’s meeting, Cogburn swore in four aldermen who were unable to attend the swearing ceremony at the Howard County Courthouse on January 2.