4.6. SR 02-03-2020Request for Action
To
Item Number
Mayor and City Council
4.6
Agenda Section
Meeting Date
Prepared by
Consent
February 3, 2020
Lauren Wipper, Human Resources Manager
Item Description
Reviewed by
Hire Wastewater Operator
Matt Stevens, Chief Operator
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Action Requested
Approve, by motion, the hiring of Andrew Kitzman to the position of wastewater operator effective
Monday, February 10, 2020.
Background/Discussion
A new position has been in the wastewater budget since 2018. At that time, it was a locate technician position.
We recruited to fill that position with no success. In 2019, it was decided to assign locating tasks to the
wastewater operators and fill the vacancy with a wastewater operator. We went to marked in May of 2019 and
received 21 applications. We interviewed seven candidates and failed to hire a candidate. We interviewed two
more qualified candidates and again, failed to hire.
We went back to market in October of 2019 and received 15 applications. We were very pleased with the six
candidates interviewed and following reference, background checks and pre -employment testing, we
recommend Andrew Kitzman for the position.
Mr. Kitzman served in the U.S. Army from 2004 to 2009. After his discharge he worked as a security officer at
a casino in California and later at the Xcel power plant in Monticello. He also worked for a short time at
Ratner Steel Supply in Roseville. Mr. Kitzman decided to go into the Water Environment Technology
program in 2017 and graduated in 2018. He worked his internship with the City of Big Lake and has since
been working at American Beverage Corporation as a Quality Assurance Technician.
Mr. Kitzman holds a Class D Wastewater Operator's Certificate which, according to our Compensation Plan,
has his pay starting at step B. He is required to get his Class B Commercial Driver's License with a tanker
endorsement within six months of his start date. All pay and benefits are consistent with city policy.
Financial Impact
This is a budgeted position.
Attachments
■ None
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