Compensation, Fire Services Top Council Agenda

The members of the Canton City Council may finally see compensation increases.

The council is expected to take action on two ordinances that will see the yearly salary for a council member increased to $8,000 a year and the salary for the mayor increased to $10,000 a year.

Support for the compensation increases has been strong among council members, especially after the body decided to end its generous pension package for future council members and mayors late last year.

However, Mayor Gene Hobgood has vetoed previous attempts to increase compensation, saying that the economic climate was not right for him to give himself a raise.

Hobgood may no longer have to worry about increasing his own pay, as the new ordinances state that the increased compensation will not take effect until Jan. 1, 2016. Some council members, such as Bill Bryan, were concerned that the long delay in implementing the pay increase will discourage younger citizens from wanting to get involved in local government.

The council will also discuss fire services. Hobgood recently vetoed a proposed fire services funding study, saying that he preferred the city move forward to attain an ISO rating of 3 before any further fire services work be done. He said that once the city has laid out a comprehensive plan for fire services, he would be more than willing to accept outside counsel on how to best fund the project.

Councilman Glen Cummins will discuss the recent ISO report that declares the city 1.6 points away from earning a rating of 3, which will put the Canton Fire Department in the top four percent of all municipal fire departments in the country. 

It is believed that completing a mutual aid and mutual training agreement with Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services will put the city over the top to earn the lower rating.

Despite the potential to lower the ISO rating, Cummins went on record during a town hall meeting in May saying that ISO ratings have no appreciable impact on insurance rates.

The council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and be held at City Hall. During the meeting, council will also:

• Discuss bids for the council's large meeting room
• Discuss street improvements
• Act on a budget amendment that will allow for a truck purchase
• Get an update on Etowah River Park and get a first reading for a budget amendment on the site
• Act to condemn parcels on the Main Street Connector Project