Keokuk could have a new police chief in place by the end of the week.
Mayor Tom Marion is recommending Administrative Captain Dave Hinton for the post.
Hinton has been with the Keokuk Police Department for more than 20 years.
Marion says Hinton stood out from the other five candidates, who are also members of the department.
“He had the most experience and he has been to the F.B.I. Academy,” says Marion. “He has had many classes and has experienced the opportunity of being administrator for the (Lee County Narcotics) Task Force. He has also been involved in the budget at the police department for the last year.”
The city council is expected to vote on the mayor’s recommendation Thursday night.
Hinton would replace Tom Crew, who is retiring after 25-years with the department. His starting salary would be about $63,000, which is what Crew currently makes.
Union Contracts
A few city employees are working without a contract in Keokuk.
Employment contracts between the city and its police officers, its wastewater treatment plant employees and members of the general unit expired June 30.
Marion says tentative agreements have been reached with the police and wastewater treatment plant unions. He says the final language must be settled on before the city council can finalize the contracts.
He says members of the general unit, which includes the streets and parks departments, are working under the previous agreement.
“The General (Unit), we are at a standstill with that one,” says Marion. “We are talking about arbitration so at this point it appears we may go to arbitration.”
Marion says a list of potential arbitrators has been given to the two sides for review.
He says the tentative contracts include a pay hike of 1.4%, retroactive to Sunday, July 1 and an increase of 0.25% on January 1.
Marion says the general unit is seeking additional money after coming off a wage freeze.
