Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Workforce topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission asks staff for stepped plan to address recruitment, retention and staffing levels
Summary
Commissioners asked utility HR and staff to break staffing issues into recruitment/retention and staffing-level/cost components and to return with updated recommendations and Baker Tilly report responses at the July meeting.
The Wausau Water Works Commission on Tuesday asked staff to present a sequential plan addressing recruitment and retention separately from proposed staffing-level increases recommended in prior studies.
Commissioner Robinson requested the topic be split into two parts: (1) recruitment and retention policies and incentives to keep current positions filled, and (2) staffing levels and the cost implications of increasing headcount to meet past recommendations. "If we could break this issue down into two components," Robinson said, "how do we deal with the current allocation of staff and specifically what policies do we need to advance that?" He asked for recommendations on salary schedules, attraction, recruitment and retention policies.
Commissioners referenced a Baker Tilly study from 2022 included in the meeting packet and asked staff to provide a concise summary of that report—s recommendations and the utility—s responses. Commissioner Forrest noted that salaries were only one component of the Baker Tilly recommendations and asked staff to report on other items such as safety and asset inventory improvements.
Staff said the HR director was not available at the June meeting but will attend the July meeting to present updated information. Commissioners also asked staff to update current and proposed staffing counts shown in the packet (current: 20 water, 16 sewer; proposed: 22 water, 19 sewer) and to provide cost estimates for any staffing changes.
No formal action was taken; commissioners directed staff to return with the broken-out recommendations and any proposed policy or salary changes for further consideration.
