Sugar Grove police ratify contract three years in the making

After nearly three years of negotiations, Sugar Grove police officers have voted to ratify a union contract with the village extending through April 2011.

The contract, retroactive to Aug. 1, 2007, sets the annual starting salary for an officer with no experience at $44,764, an increase of nearly 4 percent over the previous starting salary.

Salaries increase by roughly 5 percent with each year of service.

The salary for an officer with one year of service is $47,271; $49,779 with two years of service; and $52,286 with three years of service. An officer with 8 years of service will make $64,823.

In addition, there is a 3.25 percent cost of living increase each year across the board. On May 1, the starting salary will increase to $46,219 from $44,764.

"It's a fair contract," Village Administrator Brent Eichelberger said. "It's an accomplishment that both sides reached a voluntary agreement. We had a good relationship with officers before and during negotiations, and we have a good relationship with them now."

Officers negotiated the deal through the Metropolitan Alliance of Police, a union they voted to join in early 2006.

Attorney Richard Reimer, who conducted negotiations for the alliance, said the settlement took a long time because it was a first contract.

"First negotiations always take longer," Reimer said. "We have to negotiate every proposal and there are hundreds of pieces to the contract. It was a long battle but we look forward to working with village officials for a long time. We believe this agreement is fair."