La Cygne council approves 'stipend' formula for staff

By Roger Sims

linncountyjournal@icloud.com

La Cygne City Treasurer Alexandria 'Alex' Hadley

LA CYGNE – With the Christmas holiday and the end of the year now just days away, it would keep in the spirit of the season to say that employees’ thoughts turn to sugar plums and candy canes. But the reality is that employees’ thoughts turn to end-of-year bonuses instead.

To that end on Wednesday, Dec. 3, the La Cygne City Council on a split 3-1 vote approved a resolution that would codify year-end bonuses, called “stipends” in the language of the resolution, into a percentage of the individual employee’s salary.

That percentage would be based on whether the employee’s performance had been satisfactory, exceptional category I or II, or outstanding, depending on the employee’s  evaluation by either the supervisor or in some cases the council.

Those employees falling into the unsatisfactory or marginal categories would not receive the stipend.

For full-time employees, the stipend would be figured by taking their hourly wage and multiplying that by 2,080, the number of working hours per year for a person working a standard 40-hour week. That would leave out any overtime pay or other salary irregularities.

Based on the performance rating of satisfactory (5 to 6.99), exceptional (7 to 7.99), exceptional category II (8 to 8.99) or outstanding (9 to 10) on a 10-point scale, the employee would receive a 0.5% to a 2% stipend.

If the employee’s pay is $20 per hour, that would be $41,600 base salary per year. An employee with a satisfactory rating would receive a $208 stipend. An employee with an outstanding rating would receive an $832 stipend.

For permanent part-time employees, the rate would be figured on the current wage and the base hours required for their job.

The awarding of the stipends based on the resolution are contingent on the amount of budget available for the bonuses, and the process will be reviewed annually in October.

Councilman David Brenneman cast the sole vote against the measure. In a phone interview following the meeting, Brenneman said he voted against the stipend resolution because the council had rejected the plan earlier this year only to have the staff resurrect the plan the following meeting. He added that the council had given the staff a “nice” raise across the board in 2024 and he thought that merit raises only rewarded favoritism.

On Wednesday, the council initially decided to table the matter because of some confusion on the hourly basis for the stipend. However, while the council was engaged in closed-door sessions for employee evaluations, staff members had time to make modifications to meet the council approval.

Following the evaluation session, councilmen Thomas Capp, Ed Smith and Jerome Mitzner voted in favor of the resolution. Councilman Keith Stoker was not at the meeting.

In other business, the council:

• Voted to make newly hired City Treasurer Alexandria Hadley to be a signatory of the city’s bank accounts. Hadley will also take over the duties of the municipal court clerk.

• Approved a purchase order for $5,310 for the purchase of two portable radar speed display signs. The signs, similar to those used in Mound City, will show motorists at what speed they are traveling. Unlike Mound City’s, which are permanently placed, the signs can be moved. They can also be used to track data of motorists’ speeds.

• Learned that a U.S. Department of Agriculture official has requested documentation on why the lowest bid on sewer lift station upgrade project was not accepted. The project was awarded to Fatboy Electric for a bid of nearly $267,000 compared to the low bid of just under $200,000 by SMS Electric. The council rejected the SMS bid after they learned that BG Consultants engineering staff had concerns about the company’s experience.

• Learned that representatives from BG Consultants had met with city officials to discuss two different floor layouts that would incorporate the La Cygne Community Building into use by city offices. City Clerk Jodi Wade said two proposed layouts will be presented to the council at the Dec. 17 meeting.

• Was reminded that Kansas Open Records (KORA) and Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) training for the council was scheduled for Jan. 17. Mayor Debra Wilson invited other local governing bodies to attend the training conducted by City Attorney Jeff Deane and his staff.

• Unanimously approved a request by Wade that City Hall be closed from Jan. 12 through Jan. 16 to allow city staff to be trained on Edmunds GovTech software that the city recently purchased. The software is designed for use by local governments.

• Learned that booster pumps that will feed the Linn Valley water system have arrived and will be installed. Public Works Supervisor Dan Nasalroad said the lines to Linn Valley are expected to be charged by the end of December.