MUSCATINE, Iowa — Muscatine City Council members temporarily adjusted the salaries Thursday night of two employees who will fill in until someone is hired to succeed departing City Administrator A.J. Johnson.

The Council unanimously approved appointing Randy Hill, city public works director, as the interim city administrator effective June 27.

Johnson will resign June 26 to take a new position in Urbandale as city manager.

Muscatine will use a recruiting firm to search for his successor. The process could span four to six months and cost as much as $26,000. In the meantime, Hill will take on more duties and receive a 15 percent pay increase. He currently earns $87,293 annually.

In addition, there would be a segregation of other duties to assist in the transition period that would be assigned to Planning, Zoning and Building Safety Director Steve Boka. He earns $80,220.32 annually and will receive a 7.5 percent raise for taking on the additional duties.

Boka is expected to take responsibility for the airport, Mad Creek construction project and economic development activities.

In other news:

In a 6-1 vote, the Council approved a request from the Sunset Park Residents Association to charge a fee for parking in  the city-owned apartment complex’s lot during soccer games at the neighboring Muscatine Soccer Complex.

At Large Council member Bob Howard voted against it. After the meeting he said it’s not appropriate to use city property for such dealings and that he is not 100 percent convinced it is legal.

Muscatine Housing Administrator Dick Yerington told the Council he is in support of the plan and that there are approximately 20 parking spaces that could be utilized. No price for parking was established.

The Residents Association will use 100 percent of the funds to pay for activities, after-school programs and Christmas gifts for the low-income children living in Sunset Park.

Prior to this request, the Sunset Park housing parking area had been restricted to residents only during soccer events. The Residents Association would like to start the project next month.

Yerington told the Council that people using the soccer complex park in the apartment’s parking lot already due to lack of parking near the fields.

The Council also approved:

— Resolutions setting public hearings for the voluntary annexation of property owned by Frank and Cleo Bermel near Ripley’s Mobile Home Court on U.S. Highway 61. There will also be a hearing on the annexation of land owned by Ripley’s Land Development Corp.

A pre-annexation agreement with the Bermels and Ripley’s Development to facilitate the voluntary annexation of approximately 144 acres north of town was already established and discussed by Council. The pre-annexation agreement stipulates the city will participate in the design of a new public sanitary sewer line extension, lift station, permitting Ripley’s Mobile Home Court to connect to the new sewer line, zoning change for both properties, and providing for hard surfacing for a portion of the Bermel driveway that is used by the Muscatine schools as a turnaround point.

The public hearings will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, June 18.

— A resolution setting a public hearing for 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, to approve plans, specifications, cost estimate and establish a bid opening date for the Muscatine Bridge Tribute Plaza and Bike Trail Kiosk. 

— A construction administration agreement with Fox Engineering, Ames, for the Phase 4 Landfill Cell Expansion for an estimated $26,000. As the city prepares to move forward with the landfill expansion plan, Fox Engineering will assist with construction administration, resident project representation and construction staking.

— An agreement with the City of Fruitland for refuse collection services. The Council previously reviewed the agreement and contract, which calls for collection services and leaf pick up for $18.25 per month for residential customers.