NEW KNOXVILLE — The New Knoxville Village Council approved both a sergeant’s wage increase and ongoing street and airport infrastructure improvements during its meeting, Tuesday, May 8.

It was also announced that a zoning meeting will be May 14 at 6:30 p.m.

Council approved with one reading an intermediate pay tier between the police chief and regular patrolmen that allowed the police department’s sergeant to receive more pay in recognition of the extra duties performed. The pay was raised to $16 per hour.

Rex Katterheinrich, village administrator, said the infrastructure improvements at the Neil Armstrong Airport were almost completed, with installed water lines already tested for pressure and cleanliness. He added the sanitary sewer lines were also installed and would be pressure tested soon.

The village administrator said summer street project work would begin soon, concentrated in the area between the traffic light and the school.

Katterheinrich said the zoning meeting would be address issues of a fence along Mill Street and a housing addition along Walnut Street. He said the media and adjoining neighbors to the two properties had been notified.

In related news, council’s electric department chairman, Andrew Roettger, reported that he is working on an estimate to continue moving overhead electrical lines underground along the entire Main Street area, from the traffic light north to the edge of town municipal limits. He said that completion of this project could take 10 to 15 years.

In other action, the council approved:

• A final reading of an ordinance to increase health benefit costs to $65,540.67.

• The April financial reports, as well as the pay ordinance to pay village bills.