The Middlesboro City Council approved the first reading of two ordinances setting the authorized workforce and pay grades for each department and adopting a wage scale for all city employees during their meeting last week.

The authorized number of employees and pay grade for each position would be as follows:

The Administrative Department would have one City Clerk at a pay grade of 20, one Deputy Clerk at a pay grade of 16, two Account Clerks at a pay grade of 16, one Assistant Account Clerk at a pay grade of 13, Clerical Specialist as needed at a pay grade of 11, one Executive Secretary at a pay grade of 15, a part-time Executive Secretary as needed at a pay grade of 15, one City Tax Assessor at a pay grade of 15, one Code Enforcement Officer at a pay grade of 15, an Assistant Code Enforcement as needed at a pay grade of 15, one Custodian at a pay grade of 13 and one Assistant Custodian at a pay grade of 13.

The Police Department would have one Police Chief at a pay grade of 20, one Captain at a pay grade of 19, three Lieutenants at a pay grade of 18, four Sergeants at a pay grade of 17, 17 Patrol Officers at a pay grade of 16, Investigators as needed at a pay grade as assigned, one Communications Supervisor at a pay grade of 17, three Telecommunicators at a pay grade of 15, and part-time Telecommuncators as needed at a pay grade of 15.

The Fire Department would have one Fire Chief at a pay grade of 20, four Captains at a pay grade of 14, three Lieutenants at a pay grade of 13, 18 Firefighter/EMTs and Firefighter/Paramedics at a pay grade of 12 for EMTs and 15 for Paramedics, and part-time Paramedics as needed at a pay grade of 15.

The Sewer Department would have one Plant Manager/Engineer at a pay grade of 20, one Sewer Crew Chief at a pay grade of 17, one Plant Chief Operator at a pay grade of 16, one Senior Lab Technician at a pay grade of 16, one Plant Press Operator at a pay grade of 15, three Plant Shift Operators at a pay grade of 15, two Utility Workers at a pay grade of 15, two Maintenance Workers at a pay grade of 14, and part-time Maintenance Workers as needed at a pay grade of 11.

The Street Department would have one Superintendent at a pay grade of 20, one Mechanic at a pay grade of 19, four Equipment Operators at a pay grade of 17, four Maintenance Truck Drivers at a pay grade of 15, six Maintenance Workers at a pay grade of 13 and part-time Maintenance Workers as needed at a pay grade of 11.

The Wage Scale would have the following minimums and maximums for each pay grade:

Pay grade 11: $9.50 per hour ($19,760 per year) to $14.25 per hour ($29,640 per year)

Pay grade 12: $10.45 per hour ($21,736) to $15.68 per hour ($32,614.40)

Pay grade 13: $11.50 per hour ($23,920) to $17.25 per hour ($35,880)

Pay grade 14: $12.65 per hour ($26,312) to $18.97 per hour (39,475.60)

Pay grade 15: $13.91 per hour ($28,932.80) to $20.87 per hour ($43,409.60)

Pay grade 16: $15.30 per hour ($31,824) to $22.95 per hour ($47,736)

Pay grade 17: $16.83 per hour ($35,006.40) to $25.25 per hour ($52,520)

Pay grade 18: $18.52 per hour ($38,521.60) to $27.78 per hour ($57,782.40)

Pay grade 19: $20.37 per hour ($42,369.60) to $30.56 per hour ($63,564.80)

Pay grade 20: $22.41 per hour ($46,612.80) to $33.62 per hour ($69,929.60)

“The wage scale was set at starting at a minimum of $7.25 and this moves it to a minimum of $9.50 and all the other numbers are calculated from that,” Mayor Boone Bowling said.
Also, bids for blacktopping for 2025 were opened during the meeting. There were two bids received. Hinkle Contracting’s bid was $108 per ton for asphalt surface virgin material laid in place, $87 per ton for base virgin material, $84 per ton for surface virgin material and $1.90 per square yard for milling. Willis Paving’s bid was $100 per ton for asphalt surface virgin material laid in place, $90 per ton for base virgin material, $83 per ton for surface virgin material and $2.80 per square yard for milling.

The council will review the bids and award them during their October meeting.

In other business, the council approved the first reading and adoption of the 2018 Kentucky Building Code.

“In our ordinance book right now under section 153.01 what we have on record is the 1967 Building Code and there have been several versions since then,” Bowling said. “This is just to get our ordinance up to date with the current state codes.”

A first reading of a Property Maintenance Codes Enforcement Ordinance was tabled. Bowling said the city’s codes enforcement lawyer would like to speak to the council during their committee meeting before the vote on the ordinance.

During his report, Police Chief Petie Gilbert said that Sgt. Nick Capps was joined by the Middlesboro Fire Department, Bell County Sheriff’s Department, Emergency Management, School Resource Officers and the Pineville Fire Department to conduct walkthroughs at Middlesboro High School, Yellow Creek School and Middlesboro Elementary on August 28 and 29.

“We just made sure that all the rooms were safe and that they had everything that they needed in case of an emergency, such as medical kits and emergency plans,” Gilbert said. “They also did tornato, fire, earthquake and lockdown drills.”

Council Member Judy Grandey thanked Gilbert and the Middlesboro Police Department for their increased presence at the schools in recent weeks after the shooting on I-75.

“They have been very visible on the inside and the outside and I know that makes our community feel a lot better,” she said.

Those sentiments were seconded by Council Member Tommy Joe Mike.

“Kids talked a lot about how that made them feel a lot safer in the school when they came out and saw you out there. We really appreciate it,” he said.

During public comments, Kirby Smith from the 109 Board invited the council members to come visit the recycling center or the transfer station.

“I think it’s important that you be aware of how we handle the garbage in this county and the city,” he said. “We’ll be glad to take you as a group or individually. Just contact Jackie (Hoskins), the coordinator. She’ll be glad to meet with you and explain our operation.”

Council Member Lucas Carter asked about where city employees are purchasing fuel.

“I notice on our bills it says Lee Oil but I notice a lot of vehicles at (Casey’s) too,” he said.

Fire Chief Robbie England said the city uses Fuelman cards from Lee Oil that can be used anywhere those cards are accepted. He said a lot of the vehicles used by the Fire Department run on diesel and have to use DEF, which is available at Casey’s.

“It just makes sense to me that we probably should use our local stations. (Casey’s) is outside the city, they don’t pay occupational tax or anything,” Carter said. “I think we really stress using local gas stations.”

City Clerk Sandy Wilson said over 80% of the fuel bought by the city comes from Lee’s Food Mart.

Bowling also pointed out that the city receives municipal road aid from the state based on fuel purchased inside the city limits so he recommended using gas stations in the city whenever possible.

During his comments, Mayor Bowling thanked local businesses for how they have rallied behind first responders.

“Not just lately but over the last year. I appreciate how much the community really appreciates the fine workers we have and I want to say thank you to them for all they do,” he said.

Also Halloween Trick-or-Treating horse in the city were set for Thursday, October 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.