5.2. ERMUSR 06-14-2011Elk River
Municipal U
13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330-0430
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
Phone: 763.441.2020
Pax: 763.441.8099
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Troy Adams, P.E. - Director of Operations
John Dietz, Chair
Daryl Thompson, Vice Chair
AI Nadeau, Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
June l4, 201 ] 5 2
SUBJECT:
Pro osed Utilities Organizational Restructuring
BACKGROUND:
In April 2009 the Utilities underwent organizational restructuring. At that time, the supervisory
and advisory responsibilities for the Water Superintendent were contracted to the City of Elk
River for a rate of $1000 per month. This contract assigned those responsibilities to the Public
Works Director. In early 2010, the Public Works Director resigned from his position at Elk
River. The City Council decided not to fill the Public Works Director position at that time. The
City then stopped invoicing the Utilities and the contracted supervision and advisory
responsibilities were then unassigned. A current Utilities organizational chart is attached for
Commission review.
DISCUSSION:
Although the Water Superintendent is completely capable of running the day to day operations of
the water department, it is not typical or advisable to have any position with unassigned reporting
accountability. It is possible to have the Water Superintendent directly report to the
Commission. The problem that may arise with this is the Commission cun•ently meets once a
month. If the Water Superintendent needed direction from the Commission other than once a
month, the Commission would need to call a special meeting or the issue would need to wait
until the Commission could address it at a regular meeting when a quorum is present. There are
often administrative, legislative, or personnel issues that need to be addressed immediately and
fall outside of the normal day to day operational decisions that the Water Superintendent faces.
In practice, the Water Superintendent is currently being assisted in this capacity by the Utilities'
Director of Operations.
The reasons for the supervisory and advisory responsibility for the Water Superintendent being
contracted to the City are no longer issues. And because there is no Public Works Director and
no scheduled time to fill that position, it would be prudent for the Commission to address this
issue and not leave these responsibilities in limbo. Staff recommends bringing these
s
responsibilities back in house. A proposed Utilities organizational Chart is attached fOr
Commission consideration.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Staff requests the Commission assign the supervisory and advisory responsibilities of the Water
Superintendent to the Director of Operations, making the Water Superintendent report directly to
the Director of Operations. Staff recommends changing the position title of the Director of
Operations to General Manager to better define the scope of responsibilities of that position.
Staff recommends that these actions be on a probationary basis until April 1, 2012. Staff
recommends a Commission decision on this restructuring being permanent and any
compensation changes be addressed in Apri12012.
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