City manager salary increased, contract extended

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday approved an employment agreement with City Manager Dave Martin that includes a pay increase and contract extension.

Following a 15-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel with City Attorney Bob Farmer, commissioners discussed Martin’s annual evaluation and new contract, which will bring his annual salary from $104,332 in 2017 to $107,462. The agreement adds one year to Martin’s contract, which will take his employment with the city through Aug. 21, 2023. Martin’s contact, which is evaluated each year by commissioners, is always a five-year contract, according to information from the city.

Martin was not present in the closed session, which was part of the commission’s regular Tuesday meeting.

After returning to open session, Mayor Jolynne Mitchell asked each commissioner to speak to Martin about his evaluation.

Commissioner Cindy Bartelsmeyer thanked Martin for the work he has done with the city and his leadership abilities. She also said she would like to see more done with local infrastructure, especially the streets.

“The town has progressed so much since you’ve been here,” she said. “Our streets need work. The infrastructure is not good.”

Bartelsmeyer said “hopefully” a sales tax that went into effect in 2011, which sunsets in 2021, will be renewed to “put more money into streets.”

Citing a limited street budget, city officials have talked about continuing a 10-year, half-cent sales tax that funded construction of the Fort Scott Aquatic Center and an expansion of Buck Run Community Center. Money generated from the sales tax pays for sales tax bonds issued in 2011.

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