Buckley secured the services of its Municipal Court judge for another year, agreeing to pay about 25 percent more to keep Robert Freeby on the bench.

Renewal of Freeby’s contract was approved during the Oct. 23 gathering of the Buckley City Council.

A year ago, the council authorized a “professional services” contract that paid the judge a flat rate of $1,975 per month; that covered both judicial and administrative duties relating to the Buckley court.

The contract approved last week bumps the monthly compensation to $2,500.

Additionally, the 2019 contract makes slight changes to the “pro tem” portion of the agreement. If Freeby must recuse himself from hearing a case, the city is obligated to hire a replacement at the hourly rate of $58.24, an increase from the 2018 rate of $55.74.

A third change in the contract allows Freeby 57 hours per year toward vacation, illness or absence for continuing education. The existing contract allows 25 hours for such reasons.

Another item on the Oct. 23 agenda saw the Buckley council accept a $30,000 credit for work that did not meet the terms of a million-dollar contract.

As part of the expansive River Avenue improvement project, a Puyallup contractor was responsible for the “textured and pigmented” crosswalks now found at the intersection of River Avenue and Jefferson Avenue. It was determined about one-fourth of the crosswalk work was done with reinforcement that did not meet contract specifications.

The city agreed to accept the work, with the financial credit.