Grand Marais city councilors approved a property tax levy of three percent ($933,671.76) at the council’s Wednesday, Dec. 13 meeting, a decrease from the 8.2 percent proposed last fall.
Council used $60,000 in revenues from the city’s RV/camping recreation park to slash the levy.
During community comments, Bob Mattson, Joyce Heiskari, David Beckwith and Bob Glirbas each asked council members to keep the levy as low as possible. Glirbas, who lives on a fixed income, said: “The taxes on my house have gone up 148 percent in two years.”
Next, council approved a two-year contract with 3 percent wage increases each year (2018-2019) for city workers represented by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union.
Under the new agreement, employees can accrue sick leave at a maximum of nine hundred and sixty hours.
Sick leave can be used for absence from work necessitated by illness, injury, or pregnancy-related disabilities as required by law.
Parental leave, when requested, will be granted to an employee “who is a natural or adoptive parent in conjunction with the birth or adoption of a child.”
Parental leave may not exceed six weeks, unless agreed to by the city. Accrued sick leave or vacation time can be used during parental leave.
Council agreed to set a January meeting with electric department staff and union representatives to discuss current staffing.
Since Mike Taylor left last summer, the electric staff has been without a superintendent.
Council approved re-rating supervisory job descriptions, which originated from staff and the personnel committee.
Under the old rating, the liquor store manager received $44,041 to $52,849. With the new classification, the pay is $47,938 to $57,525, but an increase in Sunday hours may push that higher.
The library director’s salary was $45,290 to $54,348. Now it is $48,910 to $58,691.
Pay for the electric superintendent— which is currently not filled—ranged from $51,258 to $61,510. Now it starts at $56,546 and goes to $67,855.
The wastewater/water superintendent wage was $51,258 to $61,510. Under the new system, it is $55,157 to $66,189.
Salary for the finance director was $51,397 to $61,676. Now it’s $55,435 to $66,522.
Park and recreation manager pay scale was $51,536 to $61,848; now it’s $55,574 to $66,689.
Adjustments in salary are retroactive to July 1, 2017.
Non-union employees (supervisors) were granted the same three percent cost of living raise as the union workers.
Also, Mayor Jay Arrowsmith-DeCoux said a Dark Sky committee was forming to address steps necessary to see if Grand Marais could someday qualify to become a Dark Sky community.
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