ITEM 5_Utility Operator Memo0all.: V
MINNESOTA
TO: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
FROM: Kurt Neidermeier
DATE: March 30th, 2015
RE: Utility Operator Licensure Steps
Background:
Utility Staff becomes eligible to increase water and wastewater licensure based on years
of experience and education. An operator must pass a Water or Wastewater license
exam offer by the Minnesota Department of Health or the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency respectively to move up classification. The licensure steps in Minnesota range
from Class D through Class A based on the following criteria.
Class D One year operations experience in a Class A - D Facility.
Or completion of accredited technical education.
Class C Class D Operator for One year and
Three years of Operation experience in a Class A — D Facility.
Or One year Operations experience in a Class A - D Facility with a
Four year science degree.
Class B Class C Operator for One year and
Six years of Operation experience in a Class A — D Facility.
Or Two years Operations experience in a Class A - D Facility with a
Four year science degree.
Class A Class B Operator for Two years and
Six years of Operation experience in a Class A — D Facility.
Or Two years Operations experience in a Class A - D Facility with a
Four year science degree.
Current staffing levels are two Operators with a Class D Water and Class D Wastewater
- one of which successfully completed certification of the class C Wastewater License,
one Operator with a Class C Water and Class C Wastewater and Type IV Biosolids
license and an Exempt employee with Class A Wastewater, Class B Water and Type IV
Biosolids license.
The City of Otsego uniquely maintains two Wastewater Treatment Facilities (WWTF's);
the West WWTF a Class B and the East WWTF a Class A. The East Facility is
additionally classified as a "Class A Major" as the liquid capacity is designed over 1
million gallons per day; requiring Federal regulation, monitoring and reporting.
The City also maintains a Class C Water System. Classification of the Facilities is based
on type of process and equipment, population and facility loading and effluent
limitations.
The State of Minnesota requires staff with sufficient licensure be directly responsible for
the operation of respective facility classification. This requirement is met, however as
Operation Staff develops and certification increases; their skills, expectations and
responsibilities increase. These skills relating to regulatory standards, process practices
and troubleshooting provides the knowledge and ability to make process adjustments
with the understanding to the balance of the system, equating to clean water
discharge.
A nonexempt Utility Salary schedule was implemented June 2013 based on an hourly
rate range with a wastewater license increase adjustment. The schedule incorporates
two ranges; one for Class D and Class C Wastewater Licenses and the second range for
Class B and Class A Wastewater Licenses. It is an industry standard practice to
compensate based on license level; the higher the license the more complex the facility
the operator can be responsible for.
The City benefits from certified Operations Staff as it encourages their employees
growth, skill and knowledge within the field as they develop their expertise. The
Operator License carries with it commitment to the industry. At the staffing level, we
want to retain staff with these talents and drive to excel and ultimately skilled,
professional employees to operate the higher classifications and process complexity of
WWTF's we maintain. The pay back is a satisfied employee with training and
efficiencies lacking in staff without licensure.
2
Position
Class D Wastewater
Class C Wastewater
Class B Wastewater
Class A Wastewater
Pay Grade
7 Steps 1-4
7 Steps 5-9
9 Steps 6-9
9 Steps 10-12
Utility Department Pay Plan
3/26/2015
Pay
Steps
Position
Grade 1
2 3 4 5 6 7
8
9 10
11
12
Utility Operator C, D
7 17.65
18.14 18.62 19.10 19.58 20.06 20.54
21.02
21.51 21.99
22.47
22.95
Hourly
Utility Operator B, A
9 20.21
20.76 21.31 21.87 22.42 22.97 23.52
24.07
24.62 25.17
25.72
26.28
Hourly
Utility Operations Manager
14 27.30
28.04 28.79 29.53 30.28 31.02 31.76
32.51
33.25 34.00
34.74
35.49
Salary
3/26/2015