Item 3.9 Utility Department Staffing Recruitments 2025
Request for
City Council Action
DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT REQUESTOR: MEETING DATE:
Utilities Utility Manager Neidermeier November 25, 2024
PRESENTER(s) REVIEWED BY: ITEM #:
Consent Assistant City Administrator/Human Resources Hille 3.9 – Position Recruitments
STRATEGIC VISION
MEETS: THE CITY OF OTSEGO:
Is a strong organization that is committed to leading the community through innovative communication.
Has proactively expanded infrastructure to responsibly provide core services.
Is committed to delivery of quality emergency service responsive to community needs and expectations in a
cost-effective manner.
X Is a social community with diverse housing, service options, and employment opportunities.
Is a distinctive, connected community known for its beauty and natural surroundings.
AGENDA ITEM DETAILS
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff is recommending the City Council authorize the recruitment process for two positions.
ARE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT? IS A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED?
No No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
The 2025 Utility Budget includes hiring of an Office Coordinator and Utility Operator. These new additions were
discussed at the April Public Works Subcommittee and May Administrative Subcommittee. The following is the proposed
recruitment schedule to incorporate new staffing with project alignment and workloads.
Office Coordinator:
This new Utility Department position establishes interactive customer service responses and variety of activity
scheduling. Examples include customer questions, water quality discussions, service requests determination and
scheduling, irrigation associated advancements, softener data analysis and communications, service leaks locates and
isolation related assistance. This position provides coordination a variety of regulatory programs including service line
inventories, chloride minimization, backflow prevention compliance and mercury minimization. Additionally, the role will
manage advancement of irrigation initiatives and meter replacement program. Clerical and reception responsibilities are
included. This is a part-time position (0.8 FTE) within the 2025 utility budget.
Position Posted: January 6, 2025
Submission Deadline: January 16, 2025
Interviews: January 28, 2025
Council Action: February 10, 2025
Utility Operator:
Divisional focus for the Utility department continues to advance specialization. A Utility Operator is being sought to fulfill
staffing within the West WWTF team to assist with the West WWTF liquid capacity expansion and process modifications
to membrane filtration and self-performing solids transport. This new hire would be cross trained in all aspects and
responsibilities of the department as standard practice for on call responsibilities. This is a full-time position within the
2025 utility budget.
Position Posted: May 11, 2025
Submission Deadline: May 22, 2025
Interviews: May 28, 2025
Council Action: June 9, 2025
These positions fit within the framework operations specialization detailed within the Otsego Water and Wastewater
Utility Staffing Projection technical memorandum: November 8, 2023, by AE2S. The Public Works subcommittee was
presented with this information at the November 20, 2024, meeting with recommendation placement on consent for City
Council approval.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
• None
POSSIBLE MOTION
PLEASE WORD MOTION AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO APPEAR IN THE MINUTES:
Motion to authorize City staff to initiate the recruitments for the Utility Office Coordinator and Utility Operation
position as described in the schedule above.
BUDGET INFORMATION
FUNDING: BUDGETED:
Fund 601 – Water Utility (25%)
Fund 602 – Sanitary Sewer Utility (75%)
Yes