City of Boscobel employees received a 5 percent wage increase for 2016 when the Common Council met Monday night. Under the three-year contract, city employees will also receive a 4 percent wage increase in 2017 and 3 percent increase in 2018. The motion was passed unanimously with 19 city employees in attendance.

The action came after the Personnel Committee met last Wednesday, Oct. 28, and recommended approval of the employee wage increases for Wisconsin Professional Police Association members and all other departments in the city. Employees had argued that after Act 10 went into effect in 2011, forcing them to pay more for their health insurance and pension benefits, their salaries were essentially reduced by 5 percent.

In 2014, health insurance premiums for city employees increased to 10 percent of premiums, from $50 to $152 a month for families, and $25 to $61 a month for singles.

Inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index has steadily decreased over the past five years, from 3.0 percent in 2011 to 0.0 percent in 2015.

The Council also approved a 10-year Capital Improvement Plan. Director of Public Works Mike Reynolds informed the Council that the plan is a moving target but needs to be in place for grant application purposes.

The tentative plan calls for the total reconstruction of the 1300, 1400 and 1500 blocks of Chestnut Street in 2016 at a cost of $250,000. In 2017, plans call for the total reconstruction of the 100, 200 and 300 blocks of Adams Street, and in 2018 the total reconstruction of the 300 block of Parker Street, as well as West LeGrand Street at a cost of $220,000.