The Collinsville City Council voted unanimously Monday night to change the language in the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council.
The vote determined the costs associated with the department's canine unit will be accepted by the city. The original agreement expired in December 2011. The new agreement accepted by the city will go into effect Feb. 1 and remain in effect until Jan. 31, 2016.
"As we studied the agreement, we determined we could be more fiscally responsible as we move forward with the canine program and continue to staff it for the safety of the community," said Collinsville Police Chief Eric Van Hook.
Under the original agreement, the canine officer was paid for the 45 minutes per day required to care for, feed, groom, exercise, and travel to and from work daily with the canine officer. On the days when the canine team was not on duty, the officer was paid overtime or compensatory time for the 45 minutes per day required to care for the canine.
Under the new agreement, the canine officer will be paid 15 additional minutes each day overtime wages or compensatory time instead of 45 minutes. On days the officer is not on duty, the officer will be paid for 30 minutes per day overtime or compensatory pay to cover the care required for the dog.
The council also voted to repeal an ordinance that affects the water rates for 149 accounts brought into the city water system in February 1996. The accounts were brought into the system on the Troy water rate and have not changed in the 17 years since they were annexed into Collinsville.
"Collinsville has now surpassed the Troy fee," said city finance director Tamara Ammann. "They haven't had any rate increases in 17 years and we'd like to have them online with the rest of the water customers."
Collinsville's water rates surpassed the Troy water rates in 2010.
Finally, the council approved amendments to the City of Collinsville Personnel Policy manual.
The changes include changing employee pay dates from Thursday to Friday, amending eligibility for holiday pay and updating the dress code for employees.
