By ADAM SACASA

Eagle Staff Writer

The Macomb City Council approved a base pay of $71,171.07 for Macomb Police Chief Curt Barker and $63,871.41 for Deputy Chief Eric Lenardt at Tuesday’s meeting. Some residents had questioned the high amount. Each salary would be retroactive to their day of appointment with Barker’s being July 7 and Lenardt on July 18.

At the meeting, Mayor Mike Wisslead explained that the council came up with the number based on the salaries of Police Chiefs in other college towns.

“We did a survey of the communities that have universities a similar size to us and other communities that are about the same size,” said Wisslead. These other cities included Charleston, Carbondale, DeKalb, along with several other similarly sized cities. According to Wisslead, these wages were similar to the other communities with some paying higher and others paying less.

Retention of officers was another factor in the salary amount.

“We did the pros and cons, and this is just about in the middle,” said Wisslead. 

Changes in the off-street parking ordinance were made, including moving from 1.5 spaces per bedroom to 1.25 spaces needed for off-street parking.

While the focus on the change was originally on Adams Street, it will affect parking citywide. 

One of the problems Mayor Wisslead sees would be regulating the rules. 

“We need people to help us and hopefully not anonymously,” Wisslead said. 

The rules could cause problems when trying to differentiate between residents and visitors as well.

A previous option was to require parking stickers for cars. 

“About three years ago, we talked about that and there are some communities like the University of Illinois where they do a sticker program so they can park on the streets,” said Wisslead.

The city considered implementing the program near the 1300 block of West Calhoun, but no plans were ever completed. Wisslead said, “It was an idea that didn’t go anywhere because there was a lot of opposition.”

The council voted 5-4 to approve a sidewalk waiver at 531 W. Elting St. The property, owned by Jim Klyczek, will now have a sidewalk constructed on the north side of the street rather than the south where the property is located.

The current ordinance requires property owners to build sidewalks on the same side as the property but the council made a compromise to build the sidewalk across the street because of a lower and less steep elevation. The move also decreases the construction costs associated with the sidewalk. Council members approved the measure with the hopes that other property owners would also build sidewalks on the north side in the future.

In other business:

• Kent Cox of Bushnell was hired as Water Treatment Plant Manager. He comes with 20 years of experience with managing water and wastewater treatment plants as well as certification from the state. His starting salary would be $46,750 and be raised later to $55,000, which is the Wastewater Treatment Manager’s salary.

• The Shanty Shack had its first reading for its restaurant, Sunday sales, extended hours and outdoor location liquor licenses. The second reading will be Sept. 14.

• The WIU Homecoming parade will be getting a slightly different route. Instead of taking Adams Street from U.S. 67 to Sherman Avenue, the route will be on Carroll Street. The street will be closed from 9 a.m. to noon on the day of the parade, Oct. 17. The parade will start at 10:30 a.m. with the WIU Homecoming football game at 3:05 p.m., vs. Missouri State.

• The annexation of a territory in the northwest quarter of Emmet Township, McDonough County, (section 15) is under consideration. The zone is agricultural and would allow horses, swine, cattle and other livestock in quantities no greater than one per acre. A portion could be used for non-commercial bow and shotgun hunting by the owner with no hunting within 200 feet of any residence.

• Allan Reusch was appointed to the Macomb Police Pension Board and Chad Sperry was appointed to the Macomb Planning Commission.