The main item on tonight’s Ironton City Council agenda is a contract with police department’s union.

Under the proposed contract, there will be no raises for the first two years of the contract and new contract negotiations would begin on April 1, 2019. Probationary officer hourly rates would remain at $17, after 12 months of service it goes up to $17.46 and at 21 months of service it goes up to $17.93, and at 30 months of service it goes up to $18.40. Sergeant’s hourly rates remain at $19.17 and captain’s rates remain at $19.95.

If passed, the contract will be in effect until March 31, 2020.

The officers would pay 7.5 percent of their hospitalization premium, down from the previous 10 percent. The city would pick up the rest of the premium.

The new contract would also allow employees to sell up to 40 hours of vacation time to the city at their hourly rate of pay. The amount sold cannot be counted towards overtime or other benefits when paid.

The K-9 handler will get a $200 a month stipend, which is the equivalent to 30 minutes per day of overtime.

A new article in the contract is that the city agrees to a limited waiver to permit a member of the bargaining unit to run as a partisan candidate for elected office. If they win the election, they are required to resign from the police department. The waiver is for the candidate only and “shall not be construed to permit other bargaining unit members to campaign for such candidate.”

The ordinance will have an emergency reading tonight and if passed take effect the next pay period.

The council will also have third reading of an amendment to raise the heights of advertising signs along the highway.

The Ironton City Council meets at 6 p.m. on the third floor of the Ironton City Center.