–The Algona City Council moved forward with changes to the salaries previously approved for the Algona Police Department during their meeting Monday night. City Administrator Jacob Tjaden discussed the changes with the council prior to the vote, and he says the department needs to hire three officers as soon as possible.
The department has two open positions right now, with another coming soon as Ben Gatton is scheduled to become a Resource Officer with the Algona Community School District this fall. To go along with salary increases, the department will change the way officers are compensated for previous experience.
Tjaden says they are also reaching out to other city employees to help fill these open positions.
July 1st will be used as the effective date for determining an officer’s eligibility for the residency stipend. The hourly wage increases and other benefits will go into effect on July 13th.
