The Panora City Council approved a new base pay for the police department at their meeting Monday.

The matter was discussed by the Council and the City’s public safety committee as Police Chief Matt Reising is in the process of hiring a new full-time officer as Taylor Wheatley resigned to work for the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office. Wheatley was the City’s most recent hire, of which he was given a base salary of about $31,000 five years ago. City Administrator Lisa Grossman said that budget wise, $35,000 could be the starting pay for the next hire. Reising stated that they have advertised $35,000 to $40,000 as the salary range for the vacant position. Council member Stan Landon mentioned that the public safety committee settled at $38,000, which the Council approved. The Council made no changes to its pay schedule, which gives a $1,000 raise each year for four years after the officer becomes certified.