Afton awards annual raises in first 2026 meeting

AFTON - With the new year in swing, Afton City Council organized for 2026, establishing meeting dates and other annual business, laying out the groundwork for operations over the next year.

Alongside six resolutions which approve various city operations, including determining council pay and city employee duties, Afton assigned their council members to represent the city in local committees.

The second Tuesday of each month will continue hosting the regular monthly meeting of the Afton City Council at 6:30 p.m.

Council members will be paid $35 for each meeting they attend, either for city council meetings or as a representative for a community meeting (such as the Emergency Management Commission or Greenlawn Cemetery Board), with a payment to be made on Nov. 23 for the full total.

City employees had their rates set for the next year. City Clerk Kayla Lacina received an 8% raise from the previous year; Police Chief Jake McGuire and Maintenance Head Jesse Shade received a 4% raise; Utility Clerk Crystal Thomas received a 3% raise.

Meggen Weeks will continue as Afton’s city attorney, with Mason McCoy still serving as co-counsel. Rates for both attorneys were set at $250/hr.

Council member Dave Cunningham will continue serving as mayor pro-tem when necessary. Cunningham will continue serving on the Union County Landfill board as well as the Union County Healthcare Coalition as a representative. He will continue his appointment on the city hall/admin/park committee and, alongside council member Jeff Burger, the sewer and streets committee.

Council member Kristie Nixon will continue as a representative to the SICOG project review board and the Emergency Management Commission. Nixon is also appointed to the Finance Committee alongside Mayor Michelle Burger.

Mayor Burger is also appointed to the police department committee alongside council members Sheryl Parham and Steve Kinyon. Kinyon will continue as a representative to the Afton Fire Board.

Community member Gary Clear will continue his position appointed to him in 2025 by the city council as Afton’s representative to SIRHA. Clear also serves as the Chair of the Greenlawn Cemetery Board.

In other Afton city council news...

The city’s exterior beautification grants will continue, with three applications approved which were previously put on hold. These applications were from individuals who had received funds in previous years; an informal council rule kept these applications on hold until the new year.

About $2,500 remains in the grant’s fund for this fiscal year. Applications for 2026 will need to be sent by May 30 in order to be approved during the final meeting in June.

Budget cuts for the exterior beautification grant are coming for the next fiscal year. For both the beautification grant as well as the downtown facade grant, these programs will contain $2,500 each in 2027. This allows for the city to hold funds for city hall and sidewalk updates planned for next year.

Afton approved Casey’s General Store amended alcohol license. Casey’s received new ownership which is now reflected in the amended license.