8.1. SR 02-07-2011ITEM 8.1.
To: Elk River City Council
From: Mayor John Dietz
Subject: Employee meetings
Here is a copy of the letter that was recently sent to all City employees. Also included is
the Employee Input Form that was also sent.
I have included comments I made to all city employees through a series of meeting last
week. I will report to the Council on those meetings at the February 7, 2011 council
meeting.
Jan 11, 2011 Talk to Employees
• Introduce myself to those who don't know me,
• Stress that I am a team player and want others who are team
players, working well with all departments
• I will not be looking over shoulders telling staff how I want
something to come out. I expect you to do your best and
bring your best effort to the council. That doesn't mean I will
always agree with everything you bring to the table.
• I encourage ideas from staff. The only bad idea is the one that
you never offer. I think that our staff needs to speak up and
offer ways to save money or do things better.
• I will start a suggestion box, similar to the one we have with
the Utilities. If you would like to submit a suggestion or
make a comment you can do so anonymously through the
suggestion box. I am the only one who will be reading these
suggestions. Hopefully it will not turn into a complaint box.
• I come into this job with no allegiances to any one employee.
If you have issues and cannot resolve them with your
supervisor or the city administrator I am always available to
talk. I am not one to shove employee issues under the table. I
think the Utility employees can attest to that. I try to be a
very good listener.
• I realize that you all have a tough job. People have a negative
connotation about people that work in government and we
have to strive every day to overcome that perception. I expect
every employee to treat every citizen with respect and dignity
and to treat everyone the same.
• I want to apologize to all of you right now. Sometime in the
next four years I'm sure I will say something that offends
you. For those that know me you know that I wear my
emotions on my sleeve and I don't sugarcoat anything.
• I am far from perfect and know that I will make mistakes.
Don't be afraid to tell me that you think I am wrong on a
particular issue. It's healthy to respectfully disagree on any
issue.
• I know that our staff is the heart and soul of the city. The
council shows up at a few meetings and makes decisions but
those decisions are based on hours of work by each one of
you.
• I expect you to act professionally in every situation.
Sometimes I know that is not easy especially when dealing
with an angry citizen. Hopefully I will get very few calls
from citizens complaining about staff. If that happens I will
politely tell the citizen that I will investigate and get back to
them. I know there are always two sides to every story.
• I think we have a good staff of people who care about their
jobs and the city they work for. I know the city has not been
able to offer wage increases lately. Look on the bright side
though. Many others are without jobs or those who have jobs
are taking pay cuts and benefit decreases. The city has not
reduced your benefits, asked you to take a pay cut or given
unpaid furloughs. You just have to hang in there until things
get better.
• My reputation as one who watches every nickel spent
precedes me. Yes, my ultimate goal is to lower Elk River's
share of the property tax. Even a slight decrease is better than
an increase. I think there are a number of options that have to
be explored to accomplish that. I know that we have to
continue to maintain a certain level of city services. Our
citizens expect that. There may be times when I call you out
to justify expenditures you are asking for your department.
Police and Fire
Please be safe out there. I appreciate what you do for our citizens
but I don't ever want to have to be the mayor that has to tell your
family that a tragedy has occurred. Sometimes as you as get more
experienced in public safety, there is a tendency to relax in certain
situations. Please don't let that happen.
I look forward to working with each and every one of you. I prefer
you not call me at work unless necessary. You can always email
me or leave a message on my home phone. I will get back to you
promptly.
City or
Elk -
River
130G5 Orono !'~Irkway
Clk River, MN S533o
January 26, 2Q 11.
Dear City of E!k River Employee,
As promised I am enclosing forms that you play till out gild mail back to me ~vith
improvement ideas far the City.
The two main things I would like on these forms are:
1) Ways for the City to save money in your' del7ill't111el1t UI' 111 any departnl~nt
2) Ways for the City to create eft"icieilcics in the way we do filings
I don't want tl7esc forms to turn it7to personnel complaint forms although if you have
worked through y0U1' SUIJCI'VISOI's a11d gone u}) thl'ough the C11aU1 Uf CU177n1ii17d and are; still
having problems, I will listen to what you have to say.
You do not need to sign the fol'ms. You aCe illlOWed t0 I'Clllklill anOIly117UUS.
I will read over each suggestion that I get and decide how to proceed. This is an easy way
for you to communicate with me without being singled out in a crowd.
I am looking for ways to build the City up, not tear it down. As 1 said we all need to think
outside the bax a17d come up with better ways of doing things. Your input is appreciated.
I tun enclosing two Enlployec Input forn7s and one envelope addressed to me. Make
yourself more copies for future use and keep my address on .file.
Our employees arc: the lifeblood of the City. 1 want to do my best to keep the 1i11es of
communication open between us. The hotter' the communication in everything we do, the
better the result.
Sincerely,
J n Dietz
Mayor
Phone: 763.635.1000
Feu:: 7G3.d35.1090
www ci.e(k-riverntn.us
cty or
.~
Elk
..
River
13065 Oruno l~arkway
L'!k Itivcr, MN 55330
City of Elk River
Employee Input Form
Date submitted:
Name of Submitter {not required):
Plione:7G3.635.1000
ray: 7G3.G35.1o9a
wwwci.elk-river.mn.c~s