SCOTT CITY -- City employee paychecks today will include a five-day advance to carry employees through the new payroll system.

In addition to the advances, 17 employees will receive $374. That's the remaining portion of a $1,000 bonus the city had been paying at the rate of $83 a month since the fiscal year began July 1.

The city council authorized the advances this week to help employees as the payroll system is changed from twice-a-month paychecks to every two weeks.

"The reason is we want to give the money at the time of the hold back," City Administrator John Saxton said. "Most of our employees, in all probability, live paycheck to paycheck.

"We feel that in order to make the payroll transition work, we needed to give them the extra week's pay," Saxton said. "The council is trying to help people live through this transition. Putting people in a bind doesn't help employee morale."

In presenting the idea to the council, Brenda Moyers, chairman of the administrative-finance committee, said there was some concern about employees receiving pay checks for only three to four days to make the transition.

Her motion said employees would have to refund the unearned portion of the advance to the city if they leave employment before the end of the year.

Moyers also moved that the city amend the appropriate budgets to allow for the advances, estimated at $12,300.

City employees last received paychecks Feb. 15 for the hours worked during the first 14 days of February. Today's paychecks reflect the hours worked between Feb. 15 and 18, plus the five-day advance and bonus for senior employees.

The city's new two-week pay period began Feb. 19 and will run through March 4. Employees will be paid March 10 for the hold-back pay.

For the pay period beginning March 5, employees in the police and public works departments will receive raises in their base pay, some close to $3,000 a year because of the city's new salary plan.

However, three city hall and two parks department employees are having their base salaries cut. These employees are continuing on the city's old salary schedule, which was established in the 1980s, and are losing the extra monthly income from the $1,000 bonus.

The council approved the first reading of several ordinances relating to city hall positions this week. These would abolish the position of city treasurer, held by Kim Eifert who receives $100 a month, and amend ordinances relating to the duties of the city clerk, city collector and mayor.

Mayor Larry Forhan said Scott City had received a federal COPS, Community Oriented Policing Systems, grant that will pay up to 75 percent of a new police officer for three years.

Police Chief Danny Clubb told the council he would know more about the grant details in a couple of weeks.