COCHRAN, Ga. — Cochran Mayor Billy Yeomans says he wants to keep his city employees, and he's got a plan to do it.
At a council meeting in June, the council voted to give a pay raise to city employees except public works workers. Yeomans vetoed and asked the council to meet again to find a solution including public works. He says leaving out public works didn't feel right.
"I wanted to give (the raise) to all three of the departments at one time," Yeomans said. "The council worked with us and we all worked together and we got it."
The fire department and city administration were the other departments that got a pay and cost of living raise in the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget. Yeomans said police department didn't get a raise because they received a pay bump during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Willie Farrow with the city of Cochran public works says he appreciates the mayor thinking of him and his team.
"Everyone feels appreciated because we always feel at the bottom of the barrel when you're talking people noticing what you do because a lot of stuff we do is underground," Farrow said.
According to the City of Cochran website, public works workers provide "utility services to over 4,850 residents and over 100 businesses."
Public works also repair and maintain Cochran roads, supply clean water, filter and sanitize waste water and install and supply natural gas throughout the city. Farrow says for a job like maintaining their wastewater, it's an important job.
"And that's why I'm glad it came through for public works this time," Farrow said. "We deserve it."
Yeomans said he hopes to give a pay increase to all departments next year. The police did get a cost of living raise.