Poplar Bluff city employees will get their first premium paycheck this Friday, after city council members approved a measure to use some COVID-relief money for temporary raises.
The lump sum will represent a 3% pay increase for the months of Jan. 1 to June 30, said city manager Matt Winters, after the council voted Monday on the matter.
The temporary raises will be paid in lump sums, every six months, through 2023.
The city has received $1.7 million in 2021 from the American Recovery Plan Act funding and will receive another $1.7 million in 2022, Winters said at an earlier October work session for the city council. Winters is working with departments to come up with a plan for the full amount, but said one use allowed by the federal government is to offer “premium pay” to workers who provided essential work during the pandemic.
The temporary raises will use a total of $650,000 over three years, according to Winters. This is the first raise for non-union city employees since 2018.
A permanent 2% raise is also included in a contract from the union representing the street, motor pool and cemetery employees, which was approved Monday.
Members of the union representing the street department, motor pool and cemetery employees have agreed to a contract that expires Dec. 31, 2022.
These employees will receive the 3% premium pay for 2021-2023, and then a 2% permanent raise at the end of that time. They will receive a uniform allowance, which employees have not had previously.
The group is represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 702.
Council members also voted to annex approximately 48 acres of property into the city on the west side of Shelby Road, south of the side entrance to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center’s property.
A Cape Girardeau company, Natria, LLC, has submitted drawings to the city proposing medical offices and housing to be located on the site.
Council members Lisa Parson and Chris Taylor were absent.