By Sam Parsons

The Ottumwa City Council met last night and approved a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Ottumwa Police Union. The previous CBA had been set to expire at the end of this month.

The new CBA outlines a new pay structure for officers and communication specialists. Officers will now be paid based on a 9-step salary structure with pay increasing annually, for the first 8 years of employment, by increasing amounts. The highest salaried officers will see an increase of 6% each year. Communication specialists, meanwhile, received a market adjustment of $2 per hour starting next month with pay increases by 6% every year moving forward.

Other highlights of the new CBA include expanded holiday time (from 88 hours per year to 132), the addition of a section for K9 officers, and some language adjustments.

The Ottumwa City Council will hold its next regular meeting on June 20.