Goodhue County Board approves new pay study

CANNON FALLS — The Goodhue County Board authorized a new pay study at its Monday meeting during the Cannon Valley Fair. The study will focus on re-evaluating changed positions and determine whether alterations to pay grade are necessary.

The last time a compensation study was approved was in 2002. It was negotiated with unions and implemented completely by the end of 2005.

Since then, attrition, open positions, retirements and some changing job descriptions have caused departments to evolve. For that reason, Human Resource Director Melissa Cushing said now is an opportune time to update the compensation system.

“By doing this study it helps us keep in compliance with internal pay equity,” Cushing said, adding that the county is required to file a pay equity report every three years.

Most commissioners were on board with the compensation study, finding it more efficient than other options.

“If we don’t do this it’s going to be that one-piece-at-a-time thing,” Commissioner Dan Rechtzigel said. “To just nickel and dime down the road one piece at a time — that doesn’t really make sense.”

One commissioner agreed with the study, but not with what it’s called.

“When I think of compensation I think of a larger package,” Commissioner Ron Allen said, referring to a variety of benefits. “Basically what you’re really looking at is pay.”

Allen made a motion for approval, with the condition it be referred to as a pay study rather than a compensation study.

Unlike in the past, this pay study will include Health and Human Services employees in order to ensure pay equity compliance and equitable compensation for all county employees. There will also be an external market study done to help the county compete for qualified job applicants since many of them come to Goodhue County from the surrounding areas.

Because union contracts last until 2012 and 2013, Cushing said, “we would hope to implement it in 2014.”

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