Bourbon Board of Aldermen on Dec. 16 discussed a retirement plan for the board and city employees.

Mayor Dave Lafferty brought up the Lagers Retirement Plan.

City Clerk Cathy Bremer laid out spreadsheets consisting of an estimated cost for Lagers’ L-6, L-7 and L-12 plans.

Bremer and Alderman Margie Brine discussed the cost of the L-6 plan.

“So, Cathy, $5,000 seems pretty high to me, and you’re thinking, can we fit that in the budget?” asked Brine.

“No, that’s a year,” said Bremer.

“So it says $5,554.94 a month,” said Brine.

Bremer explained that for each plan, the total estimated increases were at the bottom of the spreadsheet.

“The L-12 is the one I look at, which seems about halfway,” said Brine. “I thought we should at least entertain moving it up, increasing it.”

“The plan to go up would be an extra $20,000. They go up $20,000 at a time,” said Lafferty.

“Has everyone here found that the plan we have now is valuable to them?” asked Alderman Mary Heywood, addressing Bremer.

“I won’t know until I retire,” said Bremer.

She explained that two former police officers were the biggest users of the Lagers’ retirement plan over the last 30 years.

“I would like to go to the L-7, I think it helps retain people,” said Brine.

She made a motion for the city to ask Lager’s about the L-7 plan.

“My budget will handle the L-12,” said Alderman John Nelson.

Bremer said her budget could handle it as well.

“I think the only trouble we might have is with water and sewer,” Bremer said.

Lafferty and Floodpain Manager Mark McEuen agreed with Brine that they liked the L-7 retirement plan. Brine asked about doing a study of the plan and if they had to request one.

“Yeah, but they’ll only do one free one,” said Bremer.

Alderman Tim Davis asked what the study does.

Bremer and Brine explained that Lagers does the study person by person to determine their plan.

“Do we pay 100 percent of this or do the employees?” asked Heywood.

Lafferty said the city pays.

“I want to pay the smalltown employees enough to stick around,” said Brine.

Heywood seconded Brine’s motion for the L-7.

The board approved with a 4-0 vote to move up the actuarial on the L-7 plan.

In other business, Lafferty asked McEuen about the investigation of Daniel Gibson’s water leak. Gibson addressed the board on Nov. 25 about a $6,000 water bill at his business. Brine recommended McEuen investigate the leak during that meeting.

“Has he done anything with his waterline?” asked Lafferty.

Nelson asked about Gibson’s water heater.

“I haven’t heard anything," said McEuen.

Brine asked if Gibson had provided an update.

“Did the guy with the obnoxious water bill give you any more information?” asked Brine.

Gibson owns A+ Automotive in Bourbon where the water leak occurred.

“I heard he was trying to sell the place,” said Lafferty.

The board agreed that Gibson should still pay his water bill, instead of trying to blame the city for it.

“No, it’s a bummer, but he’s trying to blame us,” said McEuen.

Gibson previously explained that a significant amount of erosion had occurred.

“He said he has erosion all the way down his (property), but that doesn’t happen from a three-day leak, " said Brine.

McEuen countered.

“He’s talking about his driveway, though,” said McEuen. “I think he created himself a nightmare.”

The board plans to revisit the investigation after the holidays.

The board will meet again at 7 p.m. on Jan.21 at City Hall.