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Council approves lifeguard pay increases; Personnel to study Sunday hours
Summary
The New York Mills City Council on July 8 approved temporary lifeguard pay increases for 2025 and asked the Personnel Committee to review future step raises and the feasibility of opening the municipal pool on Sundays.
The New York Mills City Council on July 8 approved raises for municipal pool lifeguards and directed further review of expanded Sunday hours.
Pool Manager Harley Wurst requested higher starting wages, telling the council that the current starting rate is $11.50 per hour ($11.75 with WSI certification) while nearby facilities pay as much as $14–$16 per hour. Wurst proposed raising the 2025 starting wage to $14.00 ($14.50 with WSI) with a four‑year step scale up to $16.00/$16.75. Clerk‑Treasurer Julie Roberts said the pool maintenance budget can cover the change for 2025 and estimated the one‑year cost at about $2,700.
Councilmember Nesland moved to approve the raises and to open Sundays from 1–5 p.m.; Maki seconded. That motion passed 4–1 (In favor: Maki, Nesland, Hetland, Hammond; Opposed: Grotheer). Concerned about long‑term budget and staffing impacts, Councilmember Grotheer then moved to approve the 2025 pay increase while asking the Personnel Committee to analyze future step increases and the logistics and budget effects of Sunday hours. Hammond seconded; that motion carried unanimously.
Why it matters: Councilors said the increases aim to improve recruitment and retention for lifeguards amid regional wage competition. The Personnel Committee will return with recommendations about multi‑year step raises and whether seven‑day operations are feasible given staff availability and costs.
Next steps: The 2025 raises will be implemented as approved; Personnel will review the proposal for step increases and Sunday openings before any further schedule changes are made.
