Waite Park to begin hiring for public works director; council debates fire chief education requirement

City staff recommended amendments to the public works director job description in light of an upcoming retirement, proposing that oversight of the Ledge be reassigned and that candidates be allowed time to obtain required water- and sewer-licensure (with a requirement to obtain the license within three years). Staff said the public works director position is exempt from civil service and recommended beginning the hiring process and implementing the amended job description when a new appointment is selected. A council member moved and seconded to begin the hiring process and amend the job description; the motion was approved.

On the fire chief job description, staff presented a proposed full-time role and said it would be processed under the Civil Service Board similarly to previous department head searches. Staff added language emphasizing strategic leadership and noted an expectation of on-call responsibilities and an approximate 30-minute response standard.

A council member questioned why the educational requirement was set as an associate degree given evolving state requirements and the increasing demands of the role. Staff and other council members said the draft lists an associate degree with a bachelor's degree preferred and that years of supervisory experience are also taken into account; one council member proposed changing the requirement to a bachelor's degree. The exchange ended in discussion and an indicated motion to accept changes was made near the end of the recorded segment.