Rockford approves raises, increased salaries for mayor, council
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
During its December meeting, the Rockford Town Council approved one-time pay increases, or bonuses, for town employees, as well as raises for all employees and increases in the salaries for the mayor and council members.
With all council members present, the council discussed the one-time pay increases, or bonuses, that the council generally approves each year for employees, with “one-time pay increases” being on the agenda. Mayor Scott White proposed a one-time pay increase of $400; however, he also proposed a raise of 50 cents per hour, stating that it would help the town stay competitive when hiring employees.
In discussion Councilmember Lynn Anne Castleberry stated that she agreed with yearly or incremental hourly raises.
“You can’t not do that in this day and age,” she said.
The council also discussed whether to do different amounts for full-time and part-time employees, as it has done previously. Rockford currently has two part-time employees and three full-time employees.
During discussion, the council voiced offering the same amount across the board and giving all five town employees a one-time pay increase of $400, as well as an hourly raise of 50 cents per hour.
Following discussion, the council unanimously approved the one-time pay increase and hourly raise as discussed across the board for both full-time and part-time employees.
Also regarding pay increases, the council and White discussed salaries for the offices of mayor and council members, with any salary increases being established to go into effect with the next term following the municipal elections in August.
Currently for Rockford the mayor position is $500 per month, and council positions are $50 per month.
In discussing the matter, the council raised questions regarding how much Goodwater and Kellyton pay.
White stated that he thought Goodwater’s mayor is paid $750 per month and gets a vehicle, but that he was not sure about the council’s pay.
In later checking with the Town of Goodwater to confirm, it was reported that Goodwater’s mayor position pays $700 per month, and the council positions are $300 per month.
During the Rockford Council meeting it was reported that the Town of Kellyton mayor and council members receive no pay.
In further discussion, Councilmember Robert Smith stated that Goodwater is bigger than Rockford, but doesn’t look anything like Rockford, adding that he thought the mayor of Rockford should get $750, also. However, Castleberry stated that she did not think $750 was enough.
White said the Utilities Board members get $100 per month and suggested increasing the council pay to $125 per month, and Castleberry stated that she was thinking $125 to $150 for the council members and $1,000 for the mayor position, as a starting talking point.
In further discussion, it was stated that Rockford’s population as of the 2020 Census was 349 and that Goodwater’s population was 1,237. White also reviewed information from the League of Municipalities regarding various population sizes and salaries of mayors and council members.
Eventually the council voiced increasing the salaries for those positions to $1,000 per month for the mayor and $150 per month for each of the town’s five council members.
Councilmember Cordarius Lee asked if the town could afford that increase. White stated that it can, adding that there is four times more in the town’s general fund than when he first walked in the office.
Following discussion, Castleberry made a motion to increase the salary for mayor to $1,000 per month and to $150 per month for council members. Smith seconded the motion.
Lee abstained from voting, and the motion was passed with the other four council members voting in favor.
In other business regarding action items, the council reviewed information regarding the old town maintenance truck that had previously been approved for being sold. White suggested the council revisit the matter and consider not selling the truck, but rather to repair it and keep it as a backup vehicle.
After brief discussion, the council unanimously approved keeping the old maintenance truck and looking into repairs.
The council also heard from Sheriff Michael Howell regarding the old school building on County Road 18, currently the Rockford Council of Arts and Crafts building. Howell spoke about the Tri-County Children’s Advocacy Center and how it could be a benefit to have space available for it in the building, as discussed at a prior Board of Education meeting.
The Tri-County Children’s Advocacy Center works with the Department of Human Resources and law enforcement to investigate child abuse in Tallapoosa, Chambers, Randolph, Coosa, and Clay counties.
Howell stated that Tri-County Advocacy would need just one wing of the building to serve area youth. He added that TCCAC has interviewed 95 Coosa County children since 2022, with about 60 of those being less than 10 years old.
In further presenting information to the council regarding proposed use of the facility, Howell and Superintendent of Education David Stover Jr. said that TCCAC would share the utility costs in lieu of paying rent and that the advocacy center would only utilize the building when it had appointments.
No action was taken following Howell’s presentation as it was for discussion only.
Later in the meeting, regarding the building White stated that Stover would be approaching the Board of Education at its next meeting about approval to give the building to the town with some stipulations in place. He further said that the town could accept the building, pending stipulations and attorney review.
After discussion, the council unanimously approved proceeding on the Rockford Council of Arts & Crafts building, with the town accepting the building pending approval by the BOE, stipulations and attorney review.
In other business, White spoke to the council about a landowner who owns land behind Magnolia Trail asking for a key to the gate at the trail. Attorney Tom Young discussed some concerns about the matter, and after discussion the council unanimously approved tabling the matter until the next meeting to get more information.
Also during the meeting, White reported that he expected work on the sidewalk in front of the county courthouse to begin the second week of January.
The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Rockford Town Council will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 21.
An audio recording of the council meeting in its entirety is available here.
