Donations and Raises
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Edmonton City Council met in regular session on Monday, January 5th, at the Edmonton City Hall. Those in attendance were Mayor Doug Smith, Councilmembers Teresa Hamlett, Curt Estes, Cathy Nunn, Faye Word, Tommy England, and City Attorney Brian Pack.
Others in attendance were City Clerk/Administrator Dawn Devore, Public Works Superintendent Moe Hensley, Assistant Police Chief Colby Romines, 911 Director Jordan Crump, ABC Administrator Fred Ray, Park & Recreation Director Brian Garrett, and for the Herald-News PJ Martin.
Two of the regular attendees were absent due to illness: Police Chief David Robertson and Edmonton Fire Chief Jerry Clemmons.
The minutes from the last meeting held on December 1, 2025, were approved as written.
Mayor Smith told the council that the Metcalfe County Historical Society had asked for a donation to help them add historically accurate shutters to the historical courthouse building. The total cost of the project is $21,000. The historical society will be paying for half, and the rest will be funded by donations. “Edmonton State Bank has donated, and only $8,500 is still needed,” Smith stated, and the fiscal court is being asked to contribute as well.
Half of the remaining amount is $4,250, and a motion was made by councilmember Nunn and seconded by councilmember Word to donate the $4,250. The motion was approved.
Clerk Devore advised that a budget amendment may be needed for the donation later on.
Director Crump presented the 911 Dispatch Center’s December report: Edmonton PD -212, Emergency Mgmt. – 3, KSP – 17, Coroner – 1, School Police – 8, Sheriff’s Dept. – 209, Edmonton Fire Dept. – 73 NM Fire Dept. – 39, and SS Fire Dept. – 35, of those 36.5% were city and 59.7% were county.
“The total number of calls dispatched in 2025 was 7,430,” noted Crump.
Policy updates were on the agenda; however, City Attorney Brian Pack stated that he had not been able to review them yet.
Also listed was a discussion of shift differential pay for the 911 workers since they have 3 shifts. After it was noted that a $1 per hour premium for shift time had been approved in 2019 for the police department, council member Hamlett made a motion to give the 2nd and 3rd shifts premiums of $1 per hour. That was seconded by councilmember Estes and approved.
Devore stated that it would be Ordinance #25-26-04, and would require two readings and publication to make it official.
In the absence of the Police Chief Robertson, Assistant Chief Romines presented the departments December activity report as: 14 arrests, 7 non-injury accidents, 6 alarms, 3 animal complaints, 4 domestic violence, 1 EPO, 1 fights, 2 incomplete 911 calls, 4 new investigations opened, 6 motorist assists, 6 medical calls, 1 drug complaint, 38 traffic stops, 5 warrants, 3 escorts, total complaints were 51 and total citations written were 19. The department patrolled 4,927 miles.
Edmonton Fire Chief Jerry Clemmons was absent, and no report was presented for December.
Next, Attorney Pack reminded the council that if a salary increase were done (or if not) for the mayor and council, it would need to be completed by May 2026 to take effect Jan. 1, 2027. That would mean 2 readings and publication before May.
Council member Beard made the motion to increase the mayor’s salary by $10,000. That would make it a yearly salary of $30,000. Also, to raise the councilmembers’ salary by $150 per month to make it $300 per month.
“That will need to be two separate ordinances,” pointed out Devore.
The motion for the mayor’s salary increase was then made by Beard, seconded by Estes, and approved. Then, the council member salary increase motion was made by Estes, seconded by Beard, and approved.
These are Ordinance #25-26-05 and Ordinance #25-26-06.
Attorney Pack had the only other item, which was a suggestion to lower the number of people required on the ethics board from five to three. The motion was made by Word and seconded by Hamlet and approved as Ordinance #25-26-07.
The mayor was again asked about the status of a grocery store coming to Edmonton. He stated that nothing new had been said, and Houchens Industries was still looking at the feasibility of placing a store here.
The motion was made to adjourn.
