The Keokuk City Council voted Thursday to lift a hiring freeze that had been put in place during the city’s budgeting process.
The Daily Gate City reports the freeze, originally approved by the council, was set to remain in effect until September.
Mayor Mark Smidt said he had asked City Administrator Jim Ferneau to create the resolution establishing the freeze as the city worked through budget concerns. He said that now the council and city officials have a better understanding of what the city’s budget will look like, making the freeze no longer necessary.
Ferneau added that positions not budgeted to be filled in next year’s budget will still remain unfilled, even with the hiring freeze now lifted.
