Council approves $293,000 compensation-study contract; one abstention over scope questions

Knoxville approved a contract with Lockton Companies LLC to perform a citywide compensation study for a contract amount not to exceed $293,000. The study will evaluate roughly 125 to 150 general government positions and is expected to be largely completed by mid-January according to city staff; biweekly updates from the consultant were described as part of the expected process.

Councilmember Adams and Councilmember Parker pressed staff about the study's scope, duration, and whether part-time positions (for example parks-and-rec staff who run youth programs) would be included. Mr. West, representing human resources, said the consultant would determine the exact list in coordination with HR and that part-time positions could be included as appropriate. Parker said she would abstain because she was not comfortable including council salaries in the study while some part-time public employees remained uncertain about inclusion; the motion otherwise passed with one abstention.

The contract includes scope language that could consider private-industry comparators where relevant to particular job classifications and anticipates completion of primary work by mid-January (with a clause referencing July 1 as a project completion milestone in the contract). Council asked for periodic updates during the consultant's work.