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Elk River <br /> Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING <br /> TO: FROM: <br /> ERMU Commission Troy Adams,P.E.—General Manager <br /> MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: <br /> April 11, 2017 5.4 <br /> SUBJECT: <br /> Wage &Benefits Committee Update <br /> ACTION REQUESTED: <br /> Approve effective immediately the hiring of one apprentice lineworker because of system <br /> growth, a second apprentice lineworker to proactively address an upcoming anticipated <br /> retirement, and change the part time Meter Reader position to full time status. <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> The Wage & Benefits Committee (W&BC)was created to help the Commission develop and <br /> maintain a pay plan structure and benefits package. The W&BC also helps the Commission with <br /> succession planning and to review pay equity compliance. The W&BC evaluates and <br /> recommends to the Commission. The W&BC does not have the authority to act without prior <br /> Commission delegation of authority. <br /> At the March Commission meeting, staff presented concerns to the Commission regarding <br /> staffing levels, current work levels, and system growth rate. The Commission directed staff to <br /> take the specific concerns to the W&BC and follow the established process for evaluation. <br /> DISCUSSION: <br /> The W&BC met on April 5 to receive an update on the recent Technical Services Superintendent <br /> interviews,to evaluate current staffing level concerns, and to review the pay equity compliance <br /> status. <br /> Technical Services Superintend Update: An update on the Technical Services Superintendent <br /> was provided. An offer was extended on April 7. <br /> Staffing Levels, Organizational Growth, and Succession Planning: The W&BC evaluated <br /> staffing levels for the electrical and technical services department. In comparison to pre-2009 <br /> recession Full Time Equivalent(FTE) numbers,the Electric Department currently has 0.5 FTE <br /> fewer employees excluding previously outsourced work that has since been brought in house. <br /> This is a 3.4%reduction in staff sizing. During the recession this reduction was manageable. <br /> Even with the 2015 electric service territory transfer agreement these levels were sufficient. That <br /> was true until the economy turned around in spring of 2017. <br /> Similarly,the Technical Services Department has only grown by 1 FTE when excluding <br /> previously outsourced work that has since been brought in house and excluding the sale of the <br /> Page 1 of 2 <br /> 177 <br />