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Mounds View City Council October 6, 2025 <br />Special Meeting Page 3 <br /> <br /> <br />Mayor Lindstrom questioned what type of experience was required for the recently hired public <br />works position. Human Resources Director Ewald stated the City looked at his previous experience <br />with the City of Delano and his experience as a machinist. In addition, he owned his own business. <br /> <br />Mayor Lindstrom stated the Council does the best it can to make sure staff know they are <br />supported, and the Council values the work that they do. He reported the Council also hires <br />department heads to make the best decisions regarding employees for the City. He indicated he <br />trusted staff’s judgement when it came to the recent hire. He commented he could not see moving <br />people along on the pay scale because they were not happy with how the City hired someone. He <br />stated this did not mean the Council did not appreciate the work being done by existing staff <br />members, but that was the determination of staff for the hire. <br /> <br />Council Member Smith explained there were currently three staff members that would move to <br />Step 9 in January. She asked where the other staff member was at. Mr. Schnur explained he was <br />at a Step 6 and he has 28 years of experience with the City. <br /> <br />City Administrator Zikmund commented on how the market rate adjustment for pay was <br />implemented three years ago. He stated the new pay system allows people to go from a five step <br />to a nine step pay scale. He indicated the pay steps were in place to ensure the City does not fall <br />behind on pay again. <br /> <br />Council Member Meehlhause discussed how City employees were able to move a step each <br />calendar year until they were at the top number of steps. He stated in the private sector every job <br />has a pay scale and noted it was very difficult for employees to reach the top because performance <br />was a big determining factor for raises. <br /> <br />Council Member Gunn questioned why this grievance was brought forward when the collective <br />bargaining unit knew wage disputes were not a reason to bring a grievance forward. Mr. Schnur <br />reported he did not recognize or see this originally. He stated he brought the grievance to Don and <br />Nyle originally and was told the dispute was not grievable. He explained he did not believe he was <br />grieving his wage because the wage scale was set. <br /> <br />Council Member Gunn commented when employees go up on the pay scale, their pay increases, <br />which meant the grievance was connected to wages. Mr. Schnur indicated he asked to speak to the <br />Council because he feels more value was placed on the new employee than was placed on the <br />current employees. <br /> <br />Mayor Lindstrom stated if this new employee was not hired, the Council would not be in this <br />position today. Mr. Schnur stated this was correct. <br /> <br />Mayor Lindstrom reported the core issue was where the new person was hired at. Mr. Schnur stated <br />it was fair to say hiring someone at 100% of their wage was upsetting when no one within public <br />works was being paid at this same rate and the current employees have more experience. <br />