4.1. ERMUSR 12-12-2012 Elk River
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Troy Adams, P.E. —General Manager
John Dietz—Chair
Daryl Thompson— Vice Chair
Al Nadeau—Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
December 12, 2012 4.1
SUBJECT:
2013 Wage and Benefits
BACKGROUND:
In October 2011 Utilities Commission formed a Wage and Benefits Committee. The Utilities
Commission created the committee to be comprised of one Commissioner, John Dietz— Utilities
Chair, and-three Utilities managers, Troy Adams—General Manager, Theresa Slominski —
Finance and Office Manager, and Mark Fuchs —Electric Superintendent. The intent for the
creation was to have the committee review and analyze wage and benefits information, receive
comments and questions from employees relating to wage and benefits, function as a forum for
discussion, and ultimately present select wage and benefit information to the Utilities
Commission for action.
The Wage and Benefits Committee met on October 16th and 30`h. The Committee updated the
Utilities Commission in November. At that meeting, the Commission approved a number of
items including: Expanding the On-Call Residency Rule radius to 20 miles from the Field
Service Building; Revising the Nightwork Rest Time period to 10:00pm through 6:00am; And,
increasing the Sick-Time Conversion maximum conversion to 120 days. The Commission
delayed decisions on a 2013 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), dental renewal, and a
Performance Metrics and Incentive Compensation Policy. The COLA and dental renewal are
included in the following discussion for consideration at the December Commission meeting.
The Performance Metrics and Incentive Compensation Policy is covered under a separate
December Utilities Commission agenda item.
DISCUSSION:
Wages
A survey was conducted of the metro utilities benchmarking the hourly wage for journeyman
lineworkers. National and State survey benchmarking information was also reviewed by the
Committee. The budget currently reflects a 3% COLA. This has a budget impact of
$69,000. The Committee has elected to pass a summarized overview of this information
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along to the Commission for consideration. In addition to the COLA, there was also
discussion on a mid-season increase.
Per the intent of the creation of this Committee, employees have the option to make requests
and contribute to the Committee discussions. The lineworkers had formally submitted in
November a request for a 7% COLA. This would have a budget impact of$92,000 above the
currently budgeted COLA.
Benefits
The dental renewal effective January 1, 2013, will result in an annual increase of$2,726.76.
Of this amount, the Utilities would be responsible for 75%, or$2,045.07. The employees
would be responsible for the remaining 25%, or$681.69. The Committee has elected to
make the recommendation that the Commission approved the dental renewal.
At the Commissioners requests, additional detail from the Committee meeting discussion topics
can be provided.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Staff requests direction on the above listed wages and benefits for inclusion in the final budget to
be approved in December.
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