City approves Kevin Nissen’s retirement

The Tea City Council met Dec. 2 and accepted the retirement of planning and zoning administrator Kevin Nissen.

Nissen plans to retire in April 2025 after 21 years with the city.

City administrator Justin Weiland noted the Humane Society contract for 2025 saw a significant increase from $232 per month to $800 per month. He noted the Humane Society has not raised their rates for years and new leadership has analyzed their books, noticed how much money they were losing and are now restructuring. Weiland thinks with this new contract, the city will try to utilize their services more. The council approved the contract.

The council approved the unified planning work program agreement between the South Eastern Council of Governments and the city of Tea. They also approved ordinance 323, the 2024 supplemental appropriations. The appropriations involves moving $4,273,000 from the general fund to police, fire department, highway and streets and pool, plus moving $75,000 from recreation fund #201 to recreation.

Weiland said they applied for a grant for $44,995 from the Department of Health to study the city’s current and future EMS options.

The council heard from the fire department about a fire rescue pumper truck. The truck would be the largest one in their fleet and is expected to last for about 30 years. The fire department is looking for $854,041.32 from the city to fund the truck. The payment would be broken into two payments that would be due in August and December 2026. They noted the cost of the truck would go up six percent after Dec. 20. No action was able to be taken at the meeting but the city does have another meeting Dec. 16.

Weiland presented a pay plan policy and pay matrix for city employees. In the pay matrix, each position has a pay grade and then a step in pay. The matrix would increase every year based on the July consumer price index and then each employee would receive a step increase based on their performance evaluation. Weiland hoped the city would approve the pay matrix by January.

The council went into executive session for personnel at 6:59 p.m.