BLUE RIDGE, Ga. – After a one-hour and 26-minute executive session during their Tuesday, March 13, meeting, the Blue Ridge City Council reconvened to announce and approve pay increases for the city Police Department and other city employee positions.

Pay increases for the Police Department are as follows:

• Interim Chief of Police Johnny Scearce will receive $28.95 an hour, up from $26.32;
• Captain/Investigator Rob Stuart will receive $22.76 an hour, up from $20.14;
• Sergeant Joe Patterson will receive $20.27 an hour, up from $17.48;
• Corporal Justin Ware will receive $17.92 an hour, up from $15.45;
• Officer Sam Rosiles will receive $17.40 an hour, up from $15.00;
• Officer Ricky Henry will receive $15.00 an hour, up from $13.39;
• Assistant Chief Mike Presswood will receive $23.89 an hour, up from $21.72;
• Lieutenant Gary Huffman will receive $21.23 an hour, up from $18.78;
• Corporal Michael Green will receive $18.22 an hour, up from  $15.71;
• Officer James Chastain will receive $15.00 an hour, up from $14.63;
• Officer TJ Alexander will receive $15.00 an hour, up from $13.91; and
• Officer Gerald Webb will receive $15.00 an hour, up from $14.63.

Also, the starting pay for the city Police Department will now be $15.00 an hour, up from $14.00. Of the increases, Councilman Nathan Fitts explained an analysis of surrounding police departments in north Georgia was conducted recently and the Blue Ridge Police Department was found to be one of the lowest-paid departments in the area. The increases, Fitts said, are still within the Police Department’s budget and will give the department a more competitive pay. Councilman Ken Gaddis stated the department was “deserving of the raises.”

City pool employees will also see a bump in pay this summer. New-hire lifeguards will make $8.00 an hour, returning concession workers will receive $9.00 and head lifeguards will make $10.00 an hour.

In addition, City Clerk Kelsey Ledford will receive $17.74 an hour, up from $13.94 and will now work at City Hall five days a week. Council members explained research had proven the city clerk’s pay, like the Police Department, was below that of surrounding areas.

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