Bob Foos
Hourly and salaried Oronogo city employees are getting a 3% cost of living adjustment wage increase as part of the 2025-26 budget that took effect July 1.
Aldermen held work sessions in May and June to prepare the budget. Then they held a special meeting on June 26 to approve the budget.
Employees are also getting vision and dental care added to their health insurance plan.
During the board’s regular monthly meeting Tuesday, recovery from last month’s hail storm was discussed.
The city received an insurance check in the amount of $109,148 to fix damaged roofs. Many homes in the city are getting roofs replaced. And dents are being removed from vehicles.
The SCADA system that controls the water wells and towers was temporarily out of service after being struck by lightning.
Public Works Superintendent Tony Cantrell reported on issues dealing with Sparklight’s installation of fiber cable and Spire’s service relocations. He said Sparklight’s project should be completed by September, while he expects Spire to be working the rest of the year.
He told board members about the frustration of utility markers being removed by residents who apparently don’t want fiber cable installed in the city’s right of way in front of their houses.
The markers are essential, he said, in order for utility services not to be interrupted of damaged.