FORT PIERRE, S.D. (KCCR) – It took two votes and 12 and a half minutes of debate, but Fort Pierre City employees will get a four-percent bump in pay in 2021. The Fort Pierre City Council took up employee salaries at their final regular meeting Monday night. Finance Officer Roxanne Heezen says salaries were budgeted for the year with a four-percent increase.

Council member Greg Kenzy opposed the four-percent raise.

Mayor Gloria Hanson says Fort Pierre competes with Hughes County, the City of Pierre and the State of South Dakota to keep good workers in place on the West Bank.

Kenzy made a motion for a one-percent increase. That motion failed to pass in a three-three tie. A substitute motion made by Council member Todd Bernhard also ended in a three-three tie with Hanson as Mayor casting the tiebreaking vote to approve the four-percent increase. Voting for the increase were Bernhard, Hanson, Mike Weisgram and Bob Ricketts. Casting votes against the four-percent pay raise was Kenzy, Carl Rathbun and Larry Cronin. Kenzy, Rathbun and Cronin voted in favor of the failed one-percent raise vote.