The El Dorado City Council approved Thursday holiday bonuses for city employees and officials and authorized the El Dorado Police Department to lock in a bid for new body cameras.
The two items were discussed earlier Thursday during a city council finance committee meeting and members of the committee agreed to place the items on the council’s agenda because of their time-sensitive nature.
During the finance committee meeting, Police Chief Billy White and Capt. Michael Leveritt reminded council members that the new body cameras were included in the EPD’s capital improvement request for the proposed 2019 city budget.
White and Leveritt said the $38,000 bid was good until mid-December and after that, the cost would rise.
While the finance committee has not yet voted on a proposed budget for 2019, they authorized the EPD to confirm the bid with the vendor and agreed to present the request to the full council for final approval Thursday evening.
White said existing body cameras used by officers in the field are worn, outdated and difficult to replace.
“Some of the parts are not even made any more,” White later told aldermen during the city council meeting.
The council also signed off on Christmas bonuses for this year after Mayor Frank Hash said each city department had money in its budget to cover the bonuses.
Council members Dianne Hammond and Judy Ward, both of whom attended the Finance Committee meeting, said the bonuses should be approved and the checks distributed by Thanksgiving — Nov. 22 — to allow city officials and employees to begin their holiday shopping.
The pay structure for the bonuses is the same as last year, including:
• $50 for six months or less.
• $100 for six months — year.
• $200 for one — two years.
• $250 for three — four years.
• $500 for five — seven years.
• $750 for eight — nine years.
• $1,000 for 10 years or more.
The tentative amount for the bonuses, including payroll taxes, is $112,180.50.
Fire Chief Chad Mosby said the numbers for the fire department had to be adjusted because the amount that was listed on the balance sheet that was issued by the city treasurer’s office differed from the total amount Mosby submitted.
Christmas bonuses are also awarded to city council members, the city clerk and Mayor Frank Hash, who previously declined his bonus.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.