By Sam Parsons

The Pella City Council met last night and changed the city’s volunteer firefighter compensation plan. After discussing the possibility of pay increases at their previous council meeting, the council voted to increase compensation paid for city accidents/fire call outs as well as training and work sessions from $15 to $20 per call or session; the changes also included increased annual stipends for leadership positions, used for out-of-pocket expenses, time spent for non-fire calls, all-day training events, and significant fire events which last longer than two hours. Overall, city staff estimated that the annual cost increase for the city will be about $9,230.

The council also extended the city’s solid waste agreement with Midwest Sanitation by one year, which would implement a cost increase of 4.8%. They also approved the preliminary plat for the Pumpkin Patch Farm subdivision. 

The next regular meeting with the Pella city council will be held on June 6.