Lake in the Hills board approves public works union contract

The Lake in the Hills village board recently approved a three-year contract with its public works union.

The new contract with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 37, which represents nearly 40 village public works employees, is retroactive to Jan. 1 2015 and runs through Dec. 31, 2017.

It includes cost of living adjustments of 2.25 percent the first year, and 2 percent increases in the following years.

A new section has been added to the contract allowing GPS monitoring of village vehicles to create service routes, improve efficiency, and reduce insurance costs. Also, a $100 monthly stipend has been established to designate one of the two mechanics as the lead mechanic.

"The negotiations went quite well," Village Administrator Gerald Sagona said. "The union and the village each presented reasonable demands, which aided in the process."