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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL <br />HELD AT THE ELK RIVER FIRE STATION <br /> THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1997 <br /> <br />Members Present: <br /> <br />Mayor Duitsman, Council Members Dietz, Thompson, Farber, and <br />Holmgren <br /> <br />Members Absent: None <br /> <br />Staff Present: <br /> <br />Pat Klaers, City Administrator; Sandra Thackeray, City Clerk; Lori <br />Johnson, Finance Director; and Bruce West, Fire Chief <br /> <br />1. Call Meeting To Order <br /> <br />Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council <br />was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Duitsman. <br /> <br />Flood Update <br /> <br />Fire Chief Bruce West updated the Council on the possibilities of flooding of the <br />Elk and Mississippi Rivers. <br /> <br />Fire Department Compensation Proposal <br /> <br />Mayor Duitsman indicated that the City is interested in arriving at a total <br />compensation package for firefighters. He reviewed the proposal for changing <br />the existing retirement plan from a defined benefit to a defined contribution type <br />of plan. He indicated that the city is also interested in paying the firefighters <br />based on the amount of service they provide. Mayor Duitsman explained the <br />different components of the wages section of the plan including training pay, <br />pay structure, and holiday pay. Mayor Duitsman explained that with this new <br />plan, firefighters need not wait 20 years to be vested. He stated thaf the vesting <br />period could be as early as one year. <br /> <br />The firefighters had several questions/comments regarding the proposal. <br /> <br />They indicated that they did not want the benefit plan changed until the <br />City is fully developed as City development or value affects the amount <br />received from the State. <br />Tying the wage to hours served may prevent firefighters from working <br />efficiently and therefore would offer no incentive to cut hours. <br />It was suggested that the 2% state aid be eliminated from the "total pay" <br />calculation. <br />The firefighters were concerned about a possible drop in the stock market <br />and the possibility of losing their retirement fund. With the present plan, <br />they are guaranteed a certain amount of money upon retirement based <br />on years of service. <br /> <br /> <br />