Council moves along Senior Services, police contract agreements

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

The Elgin City Council took steps to help Senior Services Associates expand its downtown space and approved a contract with the police union at Wednesday evening’s council sessions.

Acting on a suggestion Councilman Mike Warren brought up in February, the move would allow Senior Services to expand beyond the 800 square feet it rents at 105 S. Grove Ave. to include another 6,900 square feet of room close by at 107 S. Grove and 205 Fulton St. All three sites in question are overseen by Elite Management, 164 Division St., located in the Professional Building downtown.

Warren, who like Mayor Ed Schock is running for re-election, noted that Schock told him he knew Ron Cope, one of the owners of the Professional Building, who also own the properties in question. Schock put the parties in touch.

Councilman John Prigge tried to convince the council to table the measure, stating that because Warren only brought it up in February, it came up too fast. He said he was not 100 percent comfortable with it and suggested a decision wait until May, after the election and with a new council seated.

His motion failed 4-3, with Prigge and Councilmen Rich Dunne and Dave Kaptain, who is running for mayor, wanting to table it and Mayor Ed Schock, Councilmen Mike Warren, John Steffen and Bob Gilliam negating the move. Only the same four voted for moving the motion forward to an upcoming regular meeting for approval, but that was sufficient.

Steffen mentioned that other options had been explored for extra space, to no avail. While not against the project per se, Kaptain objected, claiming that it appeared council members tried to negotiate a deal before bringing it to staff.

“Staff should be there from the very beginning,” Kaptain said.

“There was no deal cut,” Warren said, noting he took offense at what Kaptain was implying.

“This isn’t like this is the first time this has occurred. There is nothing new here,” Schock said, strongly asserting no deals have been made.

“The timing of this is exquisite. I wanted to take the ‘politicalness’ out of it. I don’t want that for this team,” Prigge said.

City Manager Sean Stegall mentioned that the purchase of service agreement with Senior Services was due to be on the meeting agenda regardless of its amended nature. To leave it off might seem equally political, Stegall said.

As set at the committee of the whole session, the agency would receive $10,170 in 2011 as part of the agreement to provide services to local seniors and about $14,000 more to cover seven months’ rent for the additional space this year. The city then would have to come up with extra money to help pay the rent for two years beyond that. The money would come from Grand Victoria Casino money the city receives.

Rent on the property would be $3,600 per month, which would include all utilities. A code inspection would be done prior to any agreement. Senior Services would continue to pay $800 a month out of its own funds. The deal is contingent upon Elgin Township pitching in $833 a month, which it is set to discuss at its April 6 meeting. The city would contribute $1,967 a month toward the rent.

No wage hike for cops

At its regular meeting, with Dunne, a firefighter, abstaining, the council unanimously approved signing a contract with the Police Benevolent and Protection Association Unit 54. It is a one-year deal instead of the usual three, and one which has a benefits and wage freeze of sorts with a promise of no layoffs. The last contract expired Dec. 31, 2010.

While wages won’t go up across the board, police with 4½ years or less experience in line for step pay raises still will get them, as will veterans up for step increases given for 10, 15, and 20 years of service. The contract also grandfathers anyone already employed into being able to take an exam putting him or her in line for promotion. Future officers will have to have a four-year college degree to be eligible for taking the exam and possible promotion.

About 150 police below the rank of sergeant are represented by the union. Its members voted 91-16 to ratify the contract earlier this week.

Stegall said it only took a series of conversations to come to terms with the union.

“Their question was how they could help the community,” Stegall said. “I am honored to work with them.”

Schock said that contrary to Wisconsin’s well-publicized battles, the experience with the police union showed that collective bargaining works.