Seasonal Parks Employees Salary Amendment Approved
April 6, 2021 at 2:52 a.m.
By David [email protected]
The ordinance amendment was approved on first reading and will go before the Council for a second reading at the Council’s next meeting, scheduled for April 19.
Human Resource Director Jennifer Whitaker said the amendment was for some seasonal positions for the Parks and Recreation Department.
“The increases range anywhere from 17 cents to $2.75 on the hour for an average of about $1.40,” she said. “This amendment is really needed and requested to attract and retain returning employees this summer.”
The amendment states the maximum hourly wage for the campground manager is $18; recreation leader, $15; lifeguard, $14; and head lifeguard, $15.
Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer said, “We’re currently paying some of our seasonal staff $15 an hour, just like any other department is doing. This amount will help us fill these positions. I want to raise the positions that are listed to be in line with the other seasonal positions, as well.”
He said the positions like the recreational leader are “just as important to our department as seasonal workers on the maintenance staff. I wanted to compare apples to apples here, and it’ll also help us retain and get new rec leaders in there.”
Plummer said the campground manager has 20 years of experience with the ability to fix electrical and plumbing problems. He said that was “very beneficial” to his department.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer noted the city had trouble in the past few years attracting rec leaders and lifeguards. With all the activity that goes on down at Central Park, he said it was really important the city have quality staff.
Whitaker said the rec leader, lifeguards and head lifeguard wouldn’t start until May. The campground manager doesn’t start until about mid-April. They are all seasonal positions.
Councilwoman Diane Quance, who represents the Council on the Park Board, said, “I think the other important clarification maybe that needs to be made is that we are in competition with surrounding areas for lifeguards, and we are paying one of the lowest.”
Jerry Frush, councilman, said Plummer told him last year that the city couldn’t hire any lifeguards because the wages were “so low.”
Council President Jack Wilhite asked what were the places that the city was in competition with for lifeguards. Whitaker said if the amendment is approved on first and second reading, the city will be paying more than the YMCA and the other competition is Winona Lake. The amendment would make Warsaw’s lifeguard salary more evenly matched with Winona Lake, she said.
The amendment was approved on first reading unanimously.
Community Development Coordinator Jeremy Skinner presented the three tax abatement compliance review forms.
Whimet submitted for a personal property tax abatement in 2009. Skinner said Whimet said they would invest $844,000 in personal property, and they roughly invested $890,000. Adding additional employees is not part of a personal property tax abatement, but Whimet added about 44 new employees since the original tax abatement. Skinner recommended the Council approve it, which they did.
Thallemer asked if it was the last year of the abatement. Skinner said it depended on when the equipment was purchased.
Legrand AV/Milestone AV Technologies LLC (Da-Lite Screen) also has a personal property tax abatement. Skinner said Legrand expected to spend $1.6 million on equipment, and to date has spent $1.2 million. Theirs is a 10-year abatement and it’s on year six. Legrand estimated to add 30 new employees, Skinner said, but to date have not added any. Based on Legrand meeting the personal property guidelines, Skinner recommended the Council approve the request, which they did.
The third personal property tax abatement compliance review form was for Patrick Industries. It’s the third year for that abatement. Skinner said Patrick originally estimated spending around $3.1 million on new equipment, but they’ve spent roughly $3.2 million to date. They have added 147 of the 168 new jobs they had estimated they would create. Skinner recommended the Council approve the continuation of the 10-year abatement, which the Council did.
Finally, the Council heard a presentation from Skinner on the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission financial report for 2021. It was a shortened version of the presentation Skinner also gave to the Redevelopment Commission earlier Monday.
The ordinance amendment was approved on first reading and will go before the Council for a second reading at the Council’s next meeting, scheduled for April 19.
Human Resource Director Jennifer Whitaker said the amendment was for some seasonal positions for the Parks and Recreation Department.
“The increases range anywhere from 17 cents to $2.75 on the hour for an average of about $1.40,” she said. “This amendment is really needed and requested to attract and retain returning employees this summer.”
The amendment states the maximum hourly wage for the campground manager is $18; recreation leader, $15; lifeguard, $14; and head lifeguard, $15.
Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer said, “We’re currently paying some of our seasonal staff $15 an hour, just like any other department is doing. This amount will help us fill these positions. I want to raise the positions that are listed to be in line with the other seasonal positions, as well.”
He said the positions like the recreational leader are “just as important to our department as seasonal workers on the maintenance staff. I wanted to compare apples to apples here, and it’ll also help us retain and get new rec leaders in there.”
Plummer said the campground manager has 20 years of experience with the ability to fix electrical and plumbing problems. He said that was “very beneficial” to his department.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer noted the city had trouble in the past few years attracting rec leaders and lifeguards. With all the activity that goes on down at Central Park, he said it was really important the city have quality staff.
Whitaker said the rec leader, lifeguards and head lifeguard wouldn’t start until May. The campground manager doesn’t start until about mid-April. They are all seasonal positions.
Councilwoman Diane Quance, who represents the Council on the Park Board, said, “I think the other important clarification maybe that needs to be made is that we are in competition with surrounding areas for lifeguards, and we are paying one of the lowest.”
Jerry Frush, councilman, said Plummer told him last year that the city couldn’t hire any lifeguards because the wages were “so low.”
Council President Jack Wilhite asked what were the places that the city was in competition with for lifeguards. Whitaker said if the amendment is approved on first and second reading, the city will be paying more than the YMCA and the other competition is Winona Lake. The amendment would make Warsaw’s lifeguard salary more evenly matched with Winona Lake, she said.
The amendment was approved on first reading unanimously.
Community Development Coordinator Jeremy Skinner presented the three tax abatement compliance review forms.
Whimet submitted for a personal property tax abatement in 2009. Skinner said Whimet said they would invest $844,000 in personal property, and they roughly invested $890,000. Adding additional employees is not part of a personal property tax abatement, but Whimet added about 44 new employees since the original tax abatement. Skinner recommended the Council approve it, which they did.
Thallemer asked if it was the last year of the abatement. Skinner said it depended on when the equipment was purchased.
Legrand AV/Milestone AV Technologies LLC (Da-Lite Screen) also has a personal property tax abatement. Skinner said Legrand expected to spend $1.6 million on equipment, and to date has spent $1.2 million. Theirs is a 10-year abatement and it’s on year six. Legrand estimated to add 30 new employees, Skinner said, but to date have not added any. Based on Legrand meeting the personal property guidelines, Skinner recommended the Council approve the request, which they did.
The third personal property tax abatement compliance review form was for Patrick Industries. It’s the third year for that abatement. Skinner said Patrick originally estimated spending around $3.1 million on new equipment, but they’ve spent roughly $3.2 million to date. They have added 147 of the 168 new jobs they had estimated they would create. Skinner recommended the Council approve the continuation of the 10-year abatement, which the Council did.
Finally, the Council heard a presentation from Skinner on the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission financial report for 2021. It was a shortened version of the presentation Skinner also gave to the Redevelopment Commission earlier Monday.
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