(ANGOLA) -- The Steuben County Council has approved a special wage exception to allow higher pay for an interim manager at the Tri-State Steuben County Municipal Airport.
Council members voted Tuesday to amend an ordinance so the interim position can be paid between $27 and $28 an hour, above the normal $12 to $20 hourly range for part-time employees.
The change allows the airport to bring back former airport manager Terry Hallett on an interim basis after the position became vacant in January when Aaron Payonk was terminated by the Board of Aviation Commissioners.
Aviation board president Sheryl Kelly told the council the airport needed to adjust the pay rate to retain an experienced professional manager.
Council President Dan Caruso said the higher wage is a temporary exception and will expire once a permanent airport manager is hired.
The ordinance change is retroactive to February 9, the date Hallett began working in the interim role.