While city manager Jim Puffalt was the highest-paid city employee in 2021, police continued to be the highest paid on average — even more than some department directors, a new report shows.
City administration presented the 2021 public accounts report during the Nov. 28 regular city council meeting, with the document showing how much money every city employee, police officer, firefighter and council member earned last year.
Council voted unanimously to have city hall post the report to the website and to receive and file the document.
Normally city administration presents the previous year’s public accounts report and audited financial statements in the summer — or before Sept. 1 as per The Cities Act. However, the reports were late because of internal problems — now fixed — moving from one computer system to another.
City hall employees
Last year, Puffalt earned $220,244.48 in salary and $6,000 in “other remuneration.” Other municipal employees with notable salaries included:
- Darrin Stephanson, director of public works, $178,937.16 / $580.56
- Brian Acker, finance director, $154,241.89 / $2,031.55
- Derek Blais, director of parks and rec, $153,925.65
- Bevan Harlton, director of engineering, $138,212.97
- Michelle Sanson, director of planning and development, $133,633.76 / $3,809.83
- Wade McKay, director of IT, $133,625.06
- Brenda Hendrickson, city treasurer, $130,473.29 / $100
- Albert Bromley, director of human resources, $128,718.72 / $12,864.45; he retired this year
- Myron Gulka-Tiechko, city solicitor/city clerk $128,334.21 / $13,597.22; he retired last year
- Sandra Campbell, city Comptroller $126,666.76 / $75
- Richard Miller, public works supervisor of streets and roads, $54,398.70 / $21,539.91
There were roughly 330 city employees last year. Of those, 60 people made over $100,000.
Police service
The highest-paid police officers — or notable salaries — last year were:
- Chief Richard (Rick) Bourassa, $176,188.65
- Deputy Chief Rick Johns, $161,008.99
- Staff Sgt. Taylor Elder, $158,599.88
- Const. Aaron Woods, $153,811.67
- Supt. Taylor Mickleborough, $152,095.46
- Supt. Richard McKenna, $150,775.67
- Supt. Devon Oleniuk, $150,775.67
- Sgt. Chad Scheske, $150,077.34
- Staff Sgt. Christopher Flanagan, $145,550.13
- Staff Sgt. Trish Seman, $143,033.33
- Sgt. Myles Coghlin, $143,015.77
- Staff Sgt. Kevin Pilsworth, $141,776.42
- Staff Sgt. Randy Jesse, $22,330.41 / $32,856.82
Seventy-six people worked for the Moose Jaw Police Service last year. Of those, six earned over $150,000, five earned over $140,000, 10 earned over $130,000, 13 earned over $120,000 and seven earned over $110,000.
Fire department
The highest-paid firefighters last year were:
- Fire Chief Rodney Montgomery, $159,958.81 / $4,441.45
- Deputy Fire Chief Michael Russell, $145,847.15 / $248.39
- Senior Capt. Curtis Beler, $136,566.43
- Senior Capt. William Howse, $133,099.93
- Senior Capt. Robert Halsall, $131,522.62
- Senior Capt. Kayne Hemsing, $130,566.44
- Shift Capt. Christopher Luiten, $129,945.48
- Fire Prevention/EMO Officer Rodney Klippenstein, $129,077.45 / $100
- Shift Capt. Ian Clark, $126,266.74 / $100
- Shift Capt. Richelle Grocott, $124,791.78 / $100
Grants
In 2021, the city issued a grant of $56,518 to the Moose Jaw and District Seniors Association.
Council pay
A total of $313,063.97 was paid in remuneration to city council in 2021, while members claimed $4,227.20 in expenses.
Members’ salaries and expenses were:
- Coun. Doug Blanc, $35,694.77 / $956.70
- Coun. Heather Eby, $34,281.28 / $87.70
- Coun. Crystal Froese, $35,329.73 / $956.70
- Coun. Jamey Logan, $35,475.42 / $956.70
- Coun. Dawn Luhning, $50,458.53 / $87.70
- Coun. Kim Robinson, $35,738.02 / $956.70
- Mayor Clive Tolley, $16,191.72
- Former Mayor Fraser Tolmie, $69,894.50 / $225
Contractual expenses
The City of Moose Jaw issued $66,379,706.71 in business contracts last year. The lowest was $50,614.05 to Security Resource Group Inc. and the highest was $9,420,731,05 to Westridge Construction Ltd.
Other notable contract expenses last year were:
- NIS Contractors Ltd., $7,747,638.13
- Hamm Construction Ltd., $6,570,669.83
- SaskPower, $3,241,665.86
- Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant, $3,186,258.93
- Cypress Paving, $3,073,345.46
- KMS Construction, $1,677,537.72
- Spectra Venue Management, $1,505,018.27
- Suer & Pollon Mechanical $1,457,871.46
- Flyer Electric, $1,288,674.78
- Palliser Regional Library, $1,137,993
- Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, $989,708.29
- Loraas Disposal South Ltd., $986,590.91
- North Start Concrete Ltd., $878,336.58
- Harbuilt Construction Ltd., $842,346.04
- Can-Traffic Services Ltd., $770,197.05
- Sask. Assessment Management Agency, $632,340
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Dec. 12.
