Amador County – The Ione city council approved an agreement with the police union on Tuesday and authorized City Manager Kim Kerr to work to finalize revisions. The council approved a $186,000, 3-year contract with the Ione Police Officers Association Tuesday. Kerr said a comparison of pay rates between Ione Police Department officers showed they were paid 8 percent below the rates paid to Jackson Police Department officers. The sergeant pay was 20 percent under JPD’s pay rate, and the agreement, covering January 2009 to July 1, 2010, aimed at narrowing the differences through annual raises. She said the officers’ first raise will be 5 percent, and a sergeant’s rate raise will be 8 percent. Councilman Jim Ulm said basing the pay on Jackson P.D. was not a good idea as the JPD was looking at layoffs to balance its budget, not unlike every other municipality and also the Amador County Sheriff’s Office. Ulm said he would rather not give raises if they must look at layoffs and he hoped the money holds out, saying: “we are the only ones not cutting.” Vice Mayor Lee Ard said Ione has “the luxury of a fine management team and a strong balance sheet.” Ard said he found no discomfort in raising police pay because public safety is the most important thing. Councilman David Plank said the main objective should be retaining quality officers and the IPD has one officer who has been there 3 years. Plank asked if the city can absorb $186,000 in 3 years. Councilman Skip Schaufel said if the city had a catastrophic event, it could renegotiate the contract, and the agreement “shows good faith on our part.” Bonham said “there is a cost to recruiting and not keeping your officers in place,” noting that they police force had lost good officers all because of money. She said they like the community and still live in Ione but work elsewhere. The contract passed 4-1 with Ulm voting no. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.