The Aberdeen City Council approved pay raises effective Jan. 1 for Police Chief Steve Shumate, Fire Chief Tom Hubbard and City Engineer Kris Koski at the council meeting last Wednesday night.

With the raises, Chief Shumate’s annual salary will be $127,368 and Chief Hubbard will earn $123,576. City Engineer Koski will make between $90,878 and $110,472 in his new salary range.

Mayor Pete Schave said in a report presented to the council that compensation for the positions was “lagging behind the market”.

Before the raises were approved, the chiefs were making the same or less than the deputy chiefs, said Dee Anne Shaw, City Council president. This move addresses that issue, she said.

“The report recommended removing the chiefs from an assigned range and making their salaries 5% above the deputies,” said Sarah Kangas-Hanes, the city’s human resources director.

The council also approved Mayor Schave’s recommendation to update the job description of the public works accountant to accurately reflect the requirements and responsibilities of the position, including purchasing and grant administration.