Falkville’s employees will take home more money in their next paychecks thanks to a 3 percent cost of living adjustment, which was approved by the town council at a regular meeting Tuesday night.

“This is an across-the-board increase,” said Mayor Bob Ramey. “The council discussed a merit increase and a COLA before passing this year’s budget but decided to delay a decision until our revenues improved.”

The council acted on other matters as follows:

•Adopted an ordinance amending the town’s personnel policy to allow emergency workers to receive their choice of overtime pay or comp time when town offices are closed under an emergency declaration.

•Approved the purchase of iPads for the use of the mayor, council, city clerk and police and fire chief at an estimated cost of $4,000.

•Approved the replacement of a broken thermal imaging camera for the police department, payable with funds received from insurance claim.

•Authorized the mayor to enter into a contract with the Morgan County Commission to extend a garbage collection agreement.

•Proclaimed May 11-17 as National Police Week.

•Authorized Chief Chris Free and SRO Sullivan to use personal leave to attend a five-day SRO training seminar in California, providing funding is available to them.

Mayor Ramey recognized the town’s volunteer fire department for receiving several awards at the recent annual meeting of the Morgan County Volunteer Firefighters Association.

Award recipients were: Danny Tillman, firefighter of the Year; Jeff Pike, Rookie of the Year; and Christ Free, Chief of the Year and winner of the Boyce Walker Award.