By RICH GREEN
Moapa Valley Progress
In a unanimous action, the Mesquite City Council approved a three year contract with its Fire Captains and Firefighters at a meeting held Tuesday, July 9. The new contract is projected to have a financial impact of $60,000 on the General Fund the first year and a total of $400,000 for the three year term ending June 30, 2022.
Earlier this year, the council removed the residency requirement from the contract. This allows Fire & Rescue personnel to live outside a 15-mile radius of the City.
In the first year of the contract pay rates for Emergency Medical Technicians ( EMTs ) will range from $45,777 to $66,345. Paramedics will go from $52,654 to $76,312. Fire Captains will range from $60,548 to $87,752.
The ranges are based on years of service. All covered employees are to receive a step increase as of July 1, 2019.
Annual step increases of 4-6 percent will be effective for the second and third years of the contract. Pay rates for the final year of the new contract will have EMTs from $47,601 to $75,97;, Paramedics from $54,747 to $87,380; and Fire Captains from $62,969 to $100,504
City Attorney Bob Sweetin said that the new contract narrows the gap between Mesquite Fire & Rescue pay rates compared with similar positions in Clark County from 20% less to about 10% lower than other jurisdictions.
Sweetin also reported that a proposed new contact covering other City employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement will be brought to the Council for consideration at the July 23 meeting.
In other action, the Council approved a Conditional Use Permit to establish a pay-to-park lot for vehicle sales at 520 West Mesquite Boulevard. This site had most recently been used for automobile sales and will now be utilized as a “park and sell” lot, similar to what was done near Final Details on Mesquite Boulevard. Private individuals wishing to sell a motorhome, recreational vehicle, boat or motorcycle can, through payment of a fee, park their vehicles on this gated lot, and offer them for sale. These will be private sales, not done through an automobile dealer.
The Council also approved changing the existing Code Enforcement Officer position in the Development Services Department from part-time to full-time status. The annual cost of salary and employee benefits will go from $15,478 to $74,437, an increase of about $59,000. City Manager Andy Barton expressed support for this action stating that he didn’t expect it to be a problem for the General Fund to absorb this additional cost, not provided for in the previously-approved 2019 – 20 Budget.
Mayor Al Litman presented the Council with an agenda item regarding his plans to soon initiate a search process to recruit a new City Manager. This proposed action was in view of City Manager Barton’s planned retirement on September 3. The City Charter states that the Mayor shall, with advice and consent of City Council, appoint the City Manager. Litman was publicly seeking advice from City Council members and received only a comment from Councilwoman Ramaker as to the need to hire the best person available for the position, whether from within the City staff or from elsewhere. Mayor Litman reported that the opening for a City Manager would be advertised immediately.
