10.1 SR 12-05-2022
Request for Action
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 10.1
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Work Session December 5, 2023 Cal Portner, City Administrator
Item Description Reviewed by
Department Reorganization Lauren Wipper, Human Resources Manager
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Receive information and provide staff direction.
Background/Discussion
Finance Director Lori Ziemer announced her retirement effective December 19, 2022. As with any departure, we
review staffing, managerial and operational needs. As our staff grows professionally, we often are able find
efficiencies in our management and supervisory structure to enhance our operations, to provide further growth
for our employees and often, to save money.
Over the past five years, we have made a number of organizational changes to take advantage of promotions and
growth. For example, the facilities maintenance services division was moved from the Finance Department to the
direction of the recreated Public Works Department and Parks Maintenance was also moved to Public Works
from the Parks and Recreation. With the construction of the multipurpose facility, the Senior Activity Center was
closed, and senior programming activities moved to the facility along with the demolition of the Lions Park
Center community space which also resulted in a larger operation involving the ice arena operations.
As a result, both the Parks and Recreation and Finance Departments have decreased in size. The Finance
Department currently consists of the Finance, IT and Liquor Operations Division. The city administrator
proposes to combine the two departments which would consist of five divisions, Finance, Liquor, IT, FT Center,
and Recreation Programming into one department under the leadership of a director with broader governmental
or business management experience.
Financial Impact
N/A
Mission/Policy/Goal
Elk River Mission
Attachments
None
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity.
Updated: August 2020