For the first time since 2005, Butler’s parks department will have an additional set of hands joining the crew, ideally in the coming months.

City council voted unanimously during its meeting Oct. 23, to advertise and fill an open laborer position at a starting pay of $20.96 per hour in the parks department.

According to the job description, the position will perform duties such as patching park roads, cutting grass, salting and plowing in the winter, and more. The position is planned to be filled and active in 2026.

Councilman Dan Herr, who serves as the city director of parks and recreation, said the laborer position is on a tiered wage and once every four years the pay will increase up to a maximum of $29.94 an hour, an amount that can be adjusted later.

“Contracts could always alter how much we’re paying,” Herr said.

The position was unfilled for more than 20 years due to the state of the city’s finances before the sale of the Butler Area Sewer Authority. Now, with leeway from the proceeds, Herr said he feels it’s time to get the department back up to appropriate staffing levels.

“The departments have just continually decreased in staff over the years. We would have people leave and their position wouldn’t get filled,” he explained.

Applications for the position are open until 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 19. City residents will receive a hiring preference over nonresidents, according to the position’s job description.