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Residents voice concerns as Moweaqua examines village overtime costs

Residents voice concerns as Moweaqua examines village overtime costs

Residents attend the Feb.3 Moweaqua Village Board Meeting. Photo: Contributed/WAND-TV


Moweaqua, IL (WAND) – In Moweaqua, village leaders are taking a closer look at city spending. The board said this isn’t about one department, but whether overtime policies are being followed.

“I would’ve never thought that anybody would ever take advantage of this village and the board like this happened, and it’s concerning to me,” one resident said.

The personnel committee discovered that comp and overtime have not been properly monitored. A village ordinance said overtime is limited to 120 hours per employee, and salaried employees are not allowed overtime.

“The way the ordinance reads, and the system are not matching,” Chairman Beth Hayden said.

Residents obtained records that show Village Chief of Police Christopher Hale has clocked hundreds of hours over the year. Hayden said various city departments have gone over the comp time policies. Multiple board members suggest combining committee meetings for more transparency.

“The question is, how did it happen? Because in my opinion, it’s starting to be fraudulent. With the number of hours that were accrued. But nothing was done,” another resident said.

If the village continues to spend at this rate, officials said they’ll quickly end up in the red. The village will host a board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10 inside Village Hall on 122 N. Main St.

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