Yuma deputy mayor calls for a vote on city administrator’s contract

The Yuma City Council is holding a special meeting Friday after the city’s deputy mayor called for a vote on the contract of City Administrator Greg Wilkinson.

A vote could not be held Wednesday night because it was not an agenda item, according to City Attorney Richard Files.

The special meeting has been scheduled for Friday morning.

It’s the latest development in a story News 11 has been following regarding an alleged threat by Wilkinson regarding pay for first responders.

As News 11 reported recently, former City of Yuma Police Chief John Lekan said that Wilkinson threatened the already approved pay raise for first responders if the police department went through with awarding one of their sergeants.

In a News 11 exclusive interview with Wilkinson, he denied ever making the threat.

Wednesday nights meeting mainly revolved around the pay plan. The discussion was fixed on whether raising property taxes or cutting services in order to accommodate pay raises currently in the works for first responders and all other City of Yuma employees.

The discussion included questions from several councilmembers like councilmember Michael Shelton.

Shelton asked about potential budget cuts that the Yuma Police Department could face, such as less surveillance during the holidays at the Yuma Palms Regional Center.

Deputy Mayor Gary Knight addressed the possible rise in taxes. If the raise in taxes were not implemented, Knight asked what the amount of money would be needed to roll over for the next fiscal year’s general fund account.

“The amount that we’re looking to propose that either relates to new values based on construction is $339,000. The amount that relates to the tax increase to move up to the allowed amount is $792,000,” explained City of Yuma finance officials.

City Administrator Greg Wilkinson also touched on the annexation of Far West Water and the Mesa del Sol area.

He explained the annexation could go through before the end of the upcoming fiscal year.