5.2 ERMUSR 12-13-2022��i
Elk River
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:
FROM:
ERMU Commission
Theresa Slominski - General Manager
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
December 13, 2022
5.2
SUBJECT:
Wage & Benefits Committee Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
Approve wage adjustments as outlined below to be effective January 1, 2023.
BACKGROUND:
On September 14, 2022, the Wage & Benefits Committee (WBC) met to discuss wage
adjustments for 2023. The WBC reviewed information gathered by HR staff including available
data on the metro average for the Lineworker pay group.
DISCUSSION:
The metro average wage adjustment data used for benchmarking lineworker market pay
compares the base compensation of four metro municipals and three metro cooperatives with
ERMU. This benchmarking system has improved stability in ERMU's market competitiveness for
this pay group. The WBC agreed to apply the Lineworkers pay group wage adjustment to all
other staff pay groups.
In September the data available to the WBC projected that the 2023 metro average for the
Lineworker pay group would call for a 3.14% adjustment. Since then, staff has received a sixth
data point which results in a 3.21% adjustment. The seventh and final data point has been
proposed but is awaiting approval. Once approved, the average adjustment is anticipated to be
3.25%.
The Committee has also discussed planned changes to ERMU's Organizational Chart. An update
on those changes will be provided by the deputy general manager with his staff update.
ACTION REQUESTED:
The Committee recommends the Commission take the following actions to be effective January
1, 2023:
• Approve a wage adjustment for all staff as determined by the average of known,
approved adjustments of the four municipalities and three metro cooperatives forming
the 2023 metro average as of December 31, 2022.
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