EATON — Eaton City Council celebrated David Sizemore’s promotion to Eaton Police Lieutenant during its meeting on Monday, Dec. 16.
Police Chief Steven Hurd presented Sizemore to council, and Mayor Gary Wagner swore him in to his new position.
“[Sizemore] has been in law enforcement for 34 years and with Eaton for 28 years. He is our most senior officer,” Chief Hurd said. “More importantly, I can’t think of a better person to fullfill that lieutenant position.”
Following his swearing in, Sizemore said, “Thanks for everybody coming. We have a great group of guys and girls working for us. Steve [Hurd] has provided great tools for me to succeed. I’ve learned a lot this past year of being a sergeant. I’m looking forward to this challenge.”
In other business, council approved a resolution declaring consensus with Preble County communities to establish a memorial roadway network entitled Preble County Patriots’ Parkway Route within the county in honor of Preble County veterans.
Council amended and then approved a resolution establishing an organizational listening authorizing job titles, staffing levels, and pay rates for personnel in the Division of Fire and Emergency Medical Service for 2020.
The resolution assigns pay rates for various titles, including part-time and paid on-call. However, it originally stated, “Paid on-call and part-time public safety personnel shall be compensated at a rate of $8.94 per hour for regular training, monthly department meetings, and special duty assignments.”
Councilman Brad Moore said, “They get paid eight dollars to come train? Is that standard — is that how its always been? Does that seem reasonable to everybody?”
He added, if he is coming on his day off work to train, he should be receiving his normal pay rate, not a reduced rate.
Fire Chief Brian Smith explained, “That is for our paid on-call and volunteer responders.”
Mayor Wagner added, “Why don’t we just pay them their normal rate?”
“This is historic. It stems for the divisions being separated. At the time, when everyone was paid quarterly, you had a minimum wage training because they were having trouble getting folks to come in for training night every month,” Smith explained.
“So, they offered them minimum wage to compensate them. We’ve just never adjusted it over the past 13 or 14 years.”
Council agreed to strike that section of the resolution, which would allow all positions to be paid their normal rate of pay for training. They then approved the amended resolution.
Council also showed appreciation for Jim Robbins for improvements he made.
The letter council sent to Robbins said, “Your generosity in providing and installing the gutters and downspouts at our new picnic shelter at Seven Mile Park is greatly appreciated.
“In 2000 when the City of Eaton purchased this 40-acre cornfield, plans for development of Seven Mile Park began. It was hoped it would be a well-attended recreational facility, but it has certainly exceeded our expectations. The addition of this shelter will be enjoyed by many families.
“Thank you for your generous contribution to Seven Mile Park!”
In other business:
•Council approved the annual appropriation ordinance for Fiscal Year ending Dec. 31.
•Council approved an ordinance regarding a temporary appropriation to provide for the usual daily operating expenses of the City of Eaton for a part of the Fiscal Year 2020 pending passage of the annual appropriation ordinance.
•Council approved an ordinance revising the codified ordinances by adopting current replacement pages and declaring an emergency.
•Council approved a resolution establishing an organizational listing with job classification titles, staff levels, and assigned pay grades for 2020.
•Council re-appointed Manfred Treitmeier and John Ott to the Planning, Zoning and Building Board of a four year term and appointed Joe Renner as the Council Representative to the Planning, Zoning and Building Board of a one year term.
•Council appointed Brad Moore and the Council Representative to the Planning, Zoning and Building Appeals Board of a one year term.
•Council re-appointed Tania Minton to the Parks and Recreation Board for a three year term and appointed Matt Venable as the Council Representative to the Parks and Recreation Board for a one year term.
•Council re-appointed Paul Stoffregen to the Income Tax Appeals Board for a three year term.
•Council appointed Dave Kirsch and Gary Wagner to the Volunteer Fireman Dependent Fund Board for a one year term each.
