Brainerd committee approves internal promotion for city billing role

The Brainerd City Personnel & Finance Committee on Nov. 17 approved an internal promotion and a small reorganization in the public utilities business office.

Chair Dave Johnson presented staff’s recommendation to promote Laura Jewell to the billing representative position effective Nov. 4 and to place her at step 6 under city policy. Staff said the move follows an internal posting that drew three applicants and that the promotion would consolidate customer-service duties by backfilling the vacancy with a business office support specialist rather than hiring a cashier/postal specialist.

“Staff recommends promoting Laura Jewell to the billing representative position effective November 4 at step 6 and approve the updated business office support specialist job description,” the chair said.

Councilmember Kelly Babbitt moved to approve the recommendations; Johnson seconded. After a brief question about who would handle mail duties once the cashier/postal specialist position was not filled, Johnson noted those responsibilities would be transferred to other employees. The committee voted in favor and the motion carried.

The action authorized staff to complete the hiring process for the newly defined business office support specialist role. The committee packet included a redlined job description showing the proposed combination of duties.

The committee did not identify additional changes to compensation beyond the step placement, and no further fiscal details were provided at the meeting. The item will go forward as approved by the committee to be implemented by staff.