Posted: 11/2/04
City approves employee contracts
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
The City of Caledonia and its employee association have agreed to a three-year contract which gives employees an average increase of 4 percent over the next three years.
The City Council voted in favor of the agreement at its meeting of October 25. It calls for an increase of 4.5 percent for the first year of the contract (2005); an increase of 3.9 percent for the second year and an increase of 3.4 percent for the third year. The average wage for a city employee who is a member of the association is $13.45 per hour.
In addition, the council approved longevity pay of $15 per month after five years; $25 per month for 10-15 years and $30 per month after 15 years.
Health insurance benefits will be given according to the date employees started.
For those employees hired before August 1, 2002, the city pays 100 percent of the employee and 100 percent of the family health insurance premium. For employees who were hired between August 1. 2002 and December 31, 2004, the city will pay 90 percent of each premium. For employees hired after January 1, 2005, the cityís portion of the health insurance will be 100 percent of the employeeís premium and 50 percent of the family premium.
The last monthly health insurance premium paid by the city was $17,472. Two of the city employees are at the 90 percent level, the rest have their premiums paid at the 100 percent level.
The police department is not included in the negotiations because it has its own association.
Job, title change approved
In other news related to employees, the council approved a new title for Mike Gerardy, who has been street department superintendent. He will now be administrative coordinator/zoning administrator.
Gerardy, who attended the meeting, said that his role would be to coordinate work among the departments, not to have authority over other departments. He will also be taking over the zoning duties from City Clerk/Administrator Nelson. His salary, which formerly came out of the general fund, will now be split with 35 percent coming from the general fund, 21 percent from the water department, 21 percent from the sewer department and 23 percent from the electric department.
Proposed but not yet approved are the positions of lead street maintenance technician and street maintenance technician.
The council agreed to set up an area for Gerardy in the council chambers for his zoning work.
Fire truck sale on hold
The city delayed a decision on converting its 1984 pumper for use by the city until it could confer with the rural fire district.
The city received two bids on the pumper, one for $4,216 from John Humfeld and another from Councilman John Klug for $4,500. The city would pay the rural fire district half of the high bid and then convert the pumper for use by the city electric, street, and water departments. The cost to convert the truck is estimated at $15,000.
Councilman Mark Schiltz moved that the council reject all bids until the rural fire district could be consulted. The motion passed 4-0 with Councilman Klug abstaining.
In other news, the council noted that background checks are being conducted for three candidates for the position of police chief. The council will meet the candidates November 18.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com