Butler has been awarded a $66,661 state grant to cover the cost of buying a new leaf collector and collection boxes, as well as part of the cost of a new truck for the streets department.

John Evans, building code official, told City Council on Thursday that the grant from the Department of Environmental Protection’s Recycling Grant Program includes $38,528 for the leaf collector, $9,589 for the boxes. The remaining $18,543 will go toward the cost of the truck.

“The City of Butler was the only municipality in the County of Butler to receive this grant,” Evans said.

He said there was $30 million available from the DEP program.

The city applied for $74,060, but Evans said the DEP didn’t explain why a lesser amount was awarded.

When council approved the purchases last month, Evans said he was confident the city would receive the grant.

The truck, a 2019 Ford F-550, costs $46,920. A $14,375 stainless steel dump body, $8,150 in hydraulic equipment and a $4,300 salt spreader were purchased separately.

Several city officials helped prepare and submit the grant application, Evans said.

Councilman Michael Walter said the application was required to be submitted using recycled paper.

Wage increases

In unrelated business, council approved pay raises of 20 cents an hour to several employees whose wages were frozen in January after the budget was reopened.

Mayor Ben Smith said council agreed to revisit the wages after contracts with the police department, fire department and streets and parks department and city hall employee unions were settled.

The last of those contracts was approved in September.

The 20 cent raises, which equates to $128 per employee for 2018, will go to the city clerk, zoning officer, plumbing inspector, parking manager and health officer.

Amendment tabled

A motion to support U.S. Constitutional amendment banning election campaign contributions from corporations was not placed on the agenda.

At Tuesday’s forum meeting, Dane Winkler of Our Revolution in Butler asked council to approve a resolution supporting the amendment and Smith said it would come up for a vote Thursday. He said 19 states and 800 municipalities have adopted the resolution.

Councilman Kenny Bonus said council members had differing opinions about the issue and solicitor Tom Breth advised researching the matter.

Ben Smith said he personally support the amendment, but he also had some concerns about it. He said he plans to meet with Winkler next week to learn more about it.

Councilman Jeff Smith said the issue was too important for council to vote on with only two days notice.

Shade Tree Commission

In other business, Ben Smith said Doug Kleeman and Kate Gougen were appointed to the Shade Tree Commission.

He also reminded residents that council will hold a meeting on the 2019 budget at 9 a.m. Nov. 5.