Council hears budget responsibility adjustment while interim water superintendent fills duties

Kend, the director of personnel, and councilmember Murray discussed an ordinance to adjust the 2025 budget to reflect responsibility changes after the water superintendent retired and a licensed operator agreed to cover extra duties.

Personnel staff said the position is difficult to fill because state- or industry-required advanced operator licensure is uncommon; a long-serving licensed operator agreed to cover operations but declined the formal title. "Somebody here has to have that license," the personnel director said, and the adjustment would compensate the acting superintendent through the end of the year.

Nut graf: Councilmembers asked whether union-status and pension/benefit considerations affect willingness of licensed teamsters to accept management titles; staff said some licensed employees declined leadership roles because they would forfeit union benefits. The personnel office said it will examine salary and classification to improve recruitment and will prepare a plan before January when the temporary arrangement ends.

Ending: The council agreed the adjustment was reasonable as an interim measure; staff will undertake a compensation and recruitment review and return with recommendations.