The Falkville Town Council discussed the possibility of a three percent cost of living adjustment for all full-time employees with the hopes of having drafted pay scales to consider for each department by budget time.

The discussion of pay raises came up twice during Feb. 24’s work session at the Falkville Town Hall. The topic first came up when the council discussed renewing Student Resource Officer Seth Sullivan for six more months of temporary employment at Falkville High School.

Councilman David Carroll suggested the council consider raising Sullivan’s pay by at least a dollar from his current pay of $13.39 an hour.

“Officer Sullivan has gotten certifications that help this town, and he is an asset to the school,” Carroll said. “Every word I have heard about him is positive. I think we should look into giving him at least a dollar raise. I think he has definitely earned it, and I know he is worth it.”

County Commissioner Don Stisher said the county recently raised their deputies’ starting pay to almost $16 an hour. Carroll said he hoped the council could try to do something similar for Sullivan.

The council generally agreed with Carroll, but there were a few concerns.

“I think Sullivan is worth every dime we can give him, but I don’t think we need to put him above two other men in the police department,” said Police Chief Chris Free. “I don’t want there to be any internal problems. It would be great if I could have some sort of pay scale to tell each man where they start and where they can top out.”

The council agreed that they would give Sullivan at least a one-dollar raise for now, and consider more when his six-month temporary employment renewal comes up again.

The council also discussed a cost of living adjustment and possible merit raises for all full-time employees. They agreed the best way to fairly distribute merit raises would be with a pay scale in each department.

“I would love to see a pay scale,” Councilman Ken Winkles said. “I have wanted a pay scale since I was on the police force here. I think it gives employees a goal to work toward and justifies the pay raises department heads provide to those who deserve them. I see it as the only fair way to give merit raises.”

Further discussion led them to an agreement that pay scales were necessary. They planned to vote to give full-time employees a three percent cost of living adjustment at the council meeting March 3. They hope to have proposed pay scales from each department head for the council to review by budget time, so merit raises can be awarded based on regular evaluations.

In other business, Mayor Bob Ramey announced that the generator was set to be installed at the emergency backup system at Summerford Nursing Home Fri., Feb. 27. Ramey also said he and Stisher had met with all the landowners involved in the Culver Road project about easement issues except for one, with all of them agreeing so far. Bids for Culver Road should be able to go out once all the easement issues are the residents are notified of the easement issues.