After waiting an entire year for the budget to allow it, the Blytheville City Council's Personnel Committee is creating a new technology position for the police department and looking for ways to make the city's pay scale more competitive with nationwide standards.
The committee approved the creation of a technology specialist position for BPD. Despite having different employees tackling the role in the past, there has never officially been an IT position on the department's payroll. Stephen Lewis, who is currently fulfilling any and all IT responsibilities and considered the most qualified person on staff, will be moving into the new position. The new position will come with a detailed job description and a hefty pay raise.
The position has been in the works since February of last year, according to Judy Andrews who said Police Chief Ross Thompson has been waiting for the budget to allow for the job, which he says now does.
"It's a position that is really needed and Stephen's already been doing a great job. He's got his certificate and he's working on getting his associates degree out at ANC," said Andrews
Though all of the committee members had questions about the viability of creating the new position, Councilwoman Missy Langston seemed to have the most trepidation over creating the position at this time.
"Why are we just picking one city employee to give a raise to? Not that he doesn't deserve it, that's just not fair," Langston said.
"We're not actually giving him a raise," Andrews explained, "We're creating a new position that didn't exist before and moving him into the position since he is the most qualified member on staff."
The position was approved with councilmen Mylas Jeffers and Stan Parks voting for the position and Langston abstaining.
The committee also talked about the need to raise the minimum pay for several city positions, including the vacant hydraulic mechanic slot, in order to attract more applicants to fill much needed roles. The committee decided that more information was required to discuss the matter further and the issue was tabled.
cpinkard@blythevillecourier.com