By Faith Callens
ARGO — The Argo City Council approved an “employee incentive” for essential workers of the city on Monday, September 27.
The “public safety” workers incentive included all heads of departments such as the Argo Police Department, the fire department, and their maintenance department. The incentive also included all city employees, such as the city clerks.
“We just thought that we should show the first responders and all city employees how much they are appreciated within the city,” Mayor Betty Bradley said. “You know, some of them have had COVID within their families, and since they were showing up to work every day to help other families who were in need in the city, we thought a public safety incentive would just show just how much they are appreciated.”
Mayor Bradley said the incentive would be given to the city employees around the last week in November, and the total budget of the incentive is $44,000.
In other news, the council approved the following:
- Extension of 2021-2022 Budget, the council, moved the 2021-2022 budget discussion to Monday, October 11.
- Charter Franchise Agreement Ordinance 2021-09-27 was approved with updated changes naming Argo a city instead of a town.
- Christmas Parade, the Christmas Parade will be on Saturday, December 11 at 10 a.m.
The council had a majority vote for one resolution named 2021-09-27A to purchase an excavator and a dump trailer for the city using their American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Mayor Bradley was one of the members not in favor of the resolution.
“It’s not that I don’t want it, but I would rather us wait and take it slow in spending these funds to make sure it’s in one of the proper categories,” Mayor Bradley said.
Mayor Bradley said the funds could only be used for covid-related expenses.
The next budget work session is Wednesday, September 29 at 5 p.m, and the Mayor’s Breakfast will be held on Wednesday, October 13, at 7:30 a.m.
The next meeting of the Argo City Council will be Monday, October 11, at Argo Town Hall. The regular meeting will begin at 6 p.m., following a 5 p.m. pre-council.