Commission adopts revised pay plan, adds HR generalist classification

Arkansas City commissioners adopted an ordinance to revise the municipal pay plan and repeal ordinance 2025-12-4649, making the changes effective Feb. 7, 2026. Commissioners proceeded with a roll-call vote and each member answered in the affirmative, carrying the ordinance.

City staff said the ordinance does not add full-time positions but converts and reclassifies existing roles. The manager’s office asked the commission to convert a position into a street and stormwater maintenance technician and to add a Human Resources generalist classification (grade 31) to replace the existing HR assistant grading. On the HR proposal, the manager said the generalist grade provides flexibility for recruitment and career development; staff described the pay ranges and noted the entry-level and generalist hourly rates used for budgeting. The commission’s vote followed a public discussion of pay ranges and recruitment needs; the motion passed by roll call with Mayor Stewart, Vice Mayor Lundgren, Commissioner Calhoun, Commissioner Beeson and Commissioner Tweedy recorded as voting yes.

The city manager’s office also proposed new cemetery maintenance classifications to align job descriptions with the compensation study. Staff emphasized these changes are reorganizations and not additional FTEs. Implementation timing and any hiring to fill vacated roles will follow normal personnel and recruitment processes.