4.1. ERMUSR 07-14-2009Elk River -=~
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330-0430
July 9, 2009
To: Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission
John Dietz
Jerry Gumphrey
Daryl Thompson
From: Troy Adams
Subject: Review and Consider On-Call Policy
Phone: 763.441.2020
Fax: 763.441.8099
In follow up to changes made to Elk River Municipal Utilities' take-home vehicle practice and to
more clearly comply with Minnesota Statute 471.666, a revision to the ERMU On-Call Policy
was directed on May 12, 2009, by the Utilities Commission. The revisions to the policy would
identify the job positions that have various on-call requirements entailing take-home vehicle
needs, and would clarify the basis for and certain expectations related to on-call service. Per
direction of the Commission, this revision was reviewed and subsequently revised by Mark
Mathison of Gray Plant Mooty.
The proposed expanded and revised version of the ERMU handbook on-call policy is as follows:
Section 9. On-Call.
Regular Field Workers.
Required On-Call Rotation for Regular Field Workers.
Regular field, workers (including linepersons, water operators, and
other specifically trained field workers) are subject to a residency
rule. These same workers are also subject to required participation
in a scheduled on-call rotation. Apprentices may be excluded from
the on-call rotation for up to one year from their date of hire, per
management discretion. The on-call rotation is scheduled in one
(1) week blocks.
Residency Rule. The residency rule applies to the regular field
workers who are part of a scheduled on-call rotation as described
above. The residency rule is that these employees must live within
a twelve (12) mile radius of the power plant.
Response Time. The following guidelines on response time apply
to regular field workers in the on-call rotation schedule on a 24-
hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week basis during the workers'
scheduled on-call weeks.
• While on-call, workers must remain within the 12 mile
residency radius.
• While on-call, workers are expected to make immediate
telephone contact in response to a call.
• While on-call, workers are expected to urgently report to a
site of need within a reasonable time, which will vary
depending on the identified reason for the call. Depending
on the need an on-call worker may find it necessary to call
in a field partner to assist in providing appropriate and
timely call response.
Take Home Vehicles. Regular field workers who are part of the
scheduled on-call rotation will be provided a company vehicle to
take home for the exclusive purpose of responding to calls about
Utilities business during the on-call block.
Compensation for On-Call Time. Time spent on-call time by
regular field workers is not working time. In recognition of this
on-call service, however, nominal compensation is paid. This
compensation, which covers the entire one (1) week block of on-
call service, is twelve (12) hours at the worker's base rate of pay.
If a recognized paid holiday falls within the on-call block, an
additional three (3) hours at the worker's base rate of pay is added
to the on-call compensation.
Compensation for Actual Response Time. Time spent actually
responding to a call that is received while a worker is serving on-
call, however, is working time, and is therefore paid based on an
employee's regular rate of pay.
Call out time. When an employee is on-call, the Utilities' policy
on call out time pay still applies, in accordance with the terms of
that policy.
Other On-Call Arrangements. Certain employees other than regular
field workers, namely the Security Technician, the Electrical Line
Superintendent, and the Water Superintendent, are subject to call response
requirements for emergency preparedness and/or customer service
purposes. These other employees are not subject to the residency rule that
applies to regular field service workers.
Security Technician. The Security Technician is required to be
available to respond on an urgent basis to customer service needs
on a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week basis, without rotation.
Such on-call time and availability is not working time. The
Security Technician is not required to remain within the residency
radius and does not receive additional compensation for time spent
on-call.
Compensation for Actual Response Time. Time spent by
the Security Technician actually responding to a call that is
received while serving on-call, however, is working time,
and is therefore paid based on an employee's regular rate of
pay.
Call out time. When the Security Technician is on-call,
the Utilities' policy on call out time pay still applies, in
accordance with the terms of that policy.
Superintendents. The Electrical Line Superintendent and the
Water Superintendent are required to be available to respond on an
as-needed basis to emergency calls 24 hours a day, seven days a
week without rotation. Such on-call time and availability is not
working time. The Electrical Line Superintendent and the Water
Superintendent are not required to remain within the residency
radius and do not receive additional compensation for on-call time
or for actual response time. The call out time policy does not
apply to these superintendents.
Take Home Vehicles. Based on the expectation that they will
regularly be available to respond in a timely and appropriate
manner to calls about Utilities business outside of regular business
hours, the Security Technician, the Electrical Line Superintendent,
and the Water Superintendent, are provided Utilities vehicles to
take home. These vehicles are subject to the Utilities' vehicle
policy and may only be used for the exclusive purpose of
responding to calls about Utilities business.
GP:2612314 v5