Agenda Packets - 2025/10/14 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mounds View City Council October 6, 2025 Special Meeting Page 3 1 Mayor Lindstrom questioned what type of experience was required for the recently hired public 2 works position.Human Resources Director Ewald stated the City looked at his previous experience 3 with the City of Delano and his experience as a machinist. In addition,he owned his own business. 4 5 Mayor Lindstrom stated the Council does the best it can to make sure staff know they are 6 supported, and the Council values the work that they do. He reported the Council also hires 7 department heads to make the best decisions regarding employees for the City. He indicated he 8 trusted staff s judgement when it came to the recent hire. He commented he could not see moving 9 people along on the pay scale because they were not happy with how the City hired someone. He 10 stated this did not mean the Council did not appreciate the work being done by existing staff 11 members, but that was the determination of staff for the hire. 12 13 Council Member Smith explained there were currently three staff members that would move to 14 Step 9 in January. She asked where the other staff member was at. Mr. Schnur explained he was 15 at a Step 6 and he has 28 years of experience with the City. 16 17 City Administrator Zikmund commented on how the market rate adjustment for pay was 18 implemented three years ago. He stated the new pay system allows people to go from a five step 19 to a nine step pay scale. He indicated the pay steps were in place to ensure the City does not fall 20 behind on pay again. 21 22 Council Member Meehlhause discussed how City employees were able to move a step each 23 calendar year until they were at the top number of steps. He stated in the private sector every job 24 has a pay scale and noted it was very difficult for employees to reach the top because performance 25 was a big determining factor for raises. 26 27 Council Member Gunn questioned why this grievance was brought forward when the collective 28 bargaining unit knew wage disputes were not a reason to bring a grievance forward. Mr. Schnur 29 reported he did not recognize or see this originally. He stated he brought the grievance to Don and 30 Nyle originally and was told the dispute was not grievable. He explained he did not believe he was 31 grieving his wage because the wage scale was set. 32 33 Council Member Gunn commented when employees go up on the pay scale, their pay increases, 34 which meant the grievance was connected to wages. Mr. Schnur indicated he asked to speak to the 35 Council because he feels more value was placed on the new employee than was placed on the 36 current employees. 37 38 Mayor Lindstrom stated if this new employee was not hired, the Council would not be in this 39 position today. Mr. Schnur stated this was correct. 40 41 Mayor Lindstrom reported the core issue was where the new person was hired at.Mr. Schnur stated 42 it was fair to say hiring someone at 100% of their wage was upsetting when no one within public 43 works was being paid at this same rate and the current employees have more experience. 44 45 Council Member Gunn indicated three of the four public works employees will be reaching Step 46 9 in January of 2026.