At the July 24 meeting of the Caledonia City Council, Mark Goldberg, David Drown & Associates (DDA) explained the results of the Classification and Compensation study with the council.
At the February 27, 2023, council meeting, the council awarded the Classification and Compensation study contract to DDA for a total of $17,500.00. The proposal is for a full classification and compensation study with professionally rewritten job descriptions. City Clerk/Administrator Jake Dickson noted at that time it was important to complete the study before summer when labor union negotiations are scheduled to begin.
Classification and Compensation studies look at not only at internal equity between positions but also at external competitiveness. Goldberg focused on the market analysis explaining that you want to look at a minimum of 12 and no more than 20 different towns that are of similar size and offer similar services. The findings show that Caledonia is in a very competitive position. “The city is in a good spot going forward,” summarized Goldberg.
Mayor DeWayne (Tank) Schroeder called the regularly scheduled meeting to order at 6 p.m. Schroeder led his colleagues and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. The council unanimously approved the July 24 meeting agenda as presented and the minutes from the July 10 regularly scheduled city council meeting.
In addition to Mayor Schroeder, council members in attendance were Robert (Bob) Klug, Amanda Ninneman, David Fitzpatrick and Ryan Stenzel.
In one unanimous vote, the council approved the consent agenda as presented including a wage increase for Casey Klug, PUBLIC WORKS/ZONING director who has been with the city since 2017; the purchase of a gear dryer for the fire department at a cost of $8,000 with grant funding to cover 90% of the cost and the relief association covering $119 leaving the city with a balance of $800.00 to pay. The garage door at the police department will be repaired at a cost of $3,770 and the city hall door opener replaced at a cost of $4,200 including parts and labor. The garage door and door opener are non-budget items.
Finance Officer Stephanie Mann shared the mid-year financial reports (cash and investment monthly balances, investments, long-term debt – schedule of payments, and the 2023 budget details) ending June 2023 with the council emphasizing that the city is in good financial health, “All in all, the mid-year is looking good.” The council will see the first round of the 2004 budget by the end of August but definitely by the first meeting in September, because at the September 25 meeting the council will need to set the levy.
The city received a proposal from Gretchen Juan, Community Education director, asking the city to consider charging the ladies pickleball program a lower hourly fee if the program is run through the Community Education office. She noted that other school sponsored programs get to use the facility for free. Juan explained, “We would still need the city auditorium to hold the program, as they wouldn’t be able to be in the school during school hours, and our gym space is limited outside of school hours.” The council agreed that the city’s recreational fee schedule should be followed. Adult recreational groups are charged $10 per hour to use the gymnasium.
In other business, the council:
• Reviewed the overtime report for June 26 through July 9. No action is required.
• Adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m.
The next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, August 14 at city hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
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