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City council holds closed session to discuss employment negotiations
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The Caledonia City Council decided to call a special “closed session” on June 1 (after this issue of The Argus went to press) to discuss strategies for employment negotiations with City Electric Department Head Matt Blocker.
Blocker was promoted to the department head position earlier this year when long-time department head Roger Schmitz retired at the end of 2008. Blocker’s six-month probationary period is about to expire and he requested a change in his health insurance status at the May 26 council meeting.
The city has three different tiers in its insurance programs for city employees. Long-time employees are enrolled in tier I, which provides the payment of 100 percent of premiums for employees and their families.
As insurance rates went up, the city decided to offer new hires tier II, which pays for 90 percent of the premiums for employees and their families.
Tier III, which pays for 100 percent of the premiums for city employees and 50 percent of premiums for employees’ families, was instituted a number of years ago, when insurance rates took another jump. Blocker was hired when tier III was in place. He requested the city offer him tier II.
“I have a problem with this request,” Mayor Bob Burns said. “Moving Matt from tier III to tier II opens up our union contract. I don’t feel we should do this. It would set a precedent.”
Blocker said it was not his intent to re-open union contract negotiations with this request. But he felt since he was moving up to a new position, this would be the time to make the request.
“Matt is coming up on the end of his six-month probationary period. If we are going to do something, now is the time to do it,” Councilman Tom Murphy said. Murphy and Councilwoman Peggy Perry are on a negotiating committee that had previously discussed the issue with Blocker. The committee had recommended offering a $1.25 per hour increase to Blocker’s current wage, which is $26.80 per hour.
Blocker told the council he and his wife discussed the proposal and decided if he can’t be moved from tier III to tier II, he didn’t want to be the department head, and wished to be moved back to his journeyman status.
The council decided not to take any action on Blocker’s request. Murphy and Perry were to meet with union representatives before the closed session and bring a recommendation to the June 8 council meeting.
Ambulance per capita rate set
After reviewing a profit and loss report for the Caledonia Area Ambulance Service, the council set the per capita rate at $7.50 for all residents living in the service area.
In the past, the city was contracting with the townships for a set amount each year and then covering the operating loss. The townships’ contract for the 2009 budget was $18,305, which came out to approximately $7.50 per capita. The association operated at a $21,196 loss, which the city made up. When the current population of Caledonia was figured in, the per capita rate for city residents was $7.15.
Township officials wanted a more equitable system, so city staff recommended an across-the-board $7.50 per capita rate.
If operating expenses continue as predicted, the $7.50 per capita rate will actually bring additional funds, which will be set aside in a reserve fund predicated for equipment purchases, or vehicle updates.
Stemper is Officer in Charge
City Administrator Bob Nelson told the council Police Chief Randy Shefelbine had to be called to Colorado for a family emergency. Shefelbine tendered his resignation several months ago, with his retirement date set for May 31. But due to the family emergency, his last day was May 26.
The council unanimously approved the appointment of Officer Jim Stemper as “Temporary Officer in Charge” until the hiring process for Shefelbine’s replacement was complete. Stemper will receive a $1 an hour raise for the extra duties and responsibilities.
Wood burners discussed again
The council has been discussing a nuisance issue with free-standing wood-burning furnaces and the impact the smoke emitted has on neighboring residents. Last month the council asked Administrative Coordinator Mike Gerardy to find out how other cities in the area deal with the issue.
Gerardy said he checked with Rushford, Houston, Spring Grove, La Crescent and La Crosse. He reported that Rushford, Houston and La Crosse have outlawed new wood burners. Existing furnaces are grandfathered in, but if they require any repairs, they must be shut down and not used anymore.
Many of the communities have height requirements on chimneys for wood stoves inside garages or homes. In a nutshell, the height of a chimney must be as high as the eaves of neighboring homes.
Burns asked if pellet stoves emit as much smoke as regular wood stoves or fireplaces. Gerardy wasn’t sure, but would check into the issue further. A committee made up of Burns and Councilwoman Randi Vick will meet with Gerardy and bring recommendations back to the full council.
Workforce Development
The council approved a motion to contract for two part-time positions with Workforce Development for the summer. The city will be looking for persons at least 18 years of age, so they can operate city vehicles and equipment, who could do mowing, painting, raking dirt after Electric Department borings, and possibly helping with meter reading.
There will be no charge to the city for this program.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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