Village officials are hopeful that a pay raise will help the Plain City Police Department draw candidates for new positions.
Council unanimously approved an increase to the PCPD wage scale during its most recent meeting.
“I think this is going to be a gamechanger,” PCPD Chief Dale McKee said.
During council’s work session on Feb. 7, McKee said the department has not lost any officers in the past several years. However, as the village grows, officials are preparing to add more open officer positions.
Village Administrator Haley Lupton noted that Plain City has had a patrol officer position posted since August, but has struggled to attract qualified candidates.
Lupton said McKee has engaged in a number of recruitment efforts but “the reality is” that Plain City is competing in a high-paying central Ohio job market.
“We’re faced with a challenge that is not unique to us but is pressing in Plain City,” Lupton said.
Council member Aaron Lewis, who also serves on the Personnel and Finance Committee, said the committee thoroughly reviewed recruitment efforts but feels the time has come to increase wages.
“At the end of the day, our salaries are lower than what’s around us,” Lewis said.
McKee confirmed that PCPD’s wages were among the lowest in the central Ohio region.
Council member Tyler Harriman said he feels the culture and perception of the community are much more positive than the wages would indicate.
“Community-wise, I don’t feel like we’re one of the lower,” he said.
Lewis explained that the Personnel and Finance Committee worked with the village’s financial consultant, Dave Conley, to review three options to increase wages. Ultimately, committee members recommended council approve the smallest increase of the three options.
The proposed scale would bump a patrol officer’s base pay from $29.28 per hour to $33.65 an hour. The highest pay step for patrol officers would be $43.10 per hour, increased from $37.50.
McKee said the new wage scale is more closely aligned with area agencies.
“This puts us with Marysville (Police Department) and the Sheriff’s Office,” he said.
While the increased pay scale was pitched to draw new officers, McKee said he feels it will also help with retention.
An officer investigator will see their base pay jump from $34.26 an hour to $39.38, with pay capped at $44.40 compared to $38.63.
Sergeants will now have a base pay of $45.26 per hour and top out at $48.27, compared to a previous scale of $39.38 and $42.
Wages for lieutenants will rise from a base of $44.09 hourly to $50.68 and a cap of $47.05 to $54.08.
Lastly, the first step for the police chief’s pay will go from $49.36 to $56.73 hourly and the top step will rise from $52.69 to $60.56.
Village officials are also working toward creating a “cadet program” through which the village would pay for a candidate’s training at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA).
Council voted 6-0 to waive the second reading of the resolution to increase the wage scale and approve the legislation as an emergency.
McKee said it would allow him to repost the position with the updated pay scale on the National Testing Network when the current listing expires today.
In other business:
– Mayor Jody Carney issued a certificate of recognition for resident Courey Leer, who spearheaded Plain City Walks, a pedestrian organization, and the recent Plain City ArtsWalk.
Carney thanked her for her contributions to the village and her involvement as a community member.
– Council was led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Plain City Cub Scout Pack 90.