Authorization to Hire an Engineering Technician II 

The purpose of this case is to request the City Council's authorization to hire an Engineering Technician II.

As part of the February 28, 2023 work session, described below, staff discussed adding an additional Engineering Technician II position.  By consensus, the City Council agreed that hiring a second Engineering Technician II was in the best interest of the City and directed staff to proceed with filling the position.  

Background information from February 28, 2023 City Council Work Session:  
In 2022, the City Council approved bonding for $12M to increase funding for the City’s Pavement Management Program (PMP) and directed staff to spend as much of the increased funding as possible up front.  Staff then worked to revise the 10-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) by adding PMP projects, especially in the first several years.  This influx of funding will result in the City reconstructing or overlaying over 44-percent of City streets over the next 10 years.
 
Engineering staff typically design and prepare plans and specifications for all PMP projects within the 10-year CIP.  To support Engineering staff in continuing to design PMP projects, the City Council recently approved reclassifying the Engineering Technician II that was inspecting construction of PMP projects and public infrastructure being constructed as part of private developments to an Engineering Technician III so they could begin working full-time on preparing plans and specifications for PMP projects.  The City Council then approved back filling the open Engineering Technician II position to maintain two full-time construction inspectors.  However, in recent years the two construction inspectors were having a difficult time managing all of their duties, which includes inspections of public infrastructure constructed within private developments.  With the increase in PMP funding, additional construction inspectors will be needed moving forward to allow staff to adequately inspect construction in the field. 

Previous Recent Recruitment:
While working through the last process of hiring the replacement Engineering Technician II (previously hired on February 28, 2023), staff interviewed three strong candidates. As stated above, the City Council agreed, by consensus, to authorize staff to contact the candidates from the recent recruitment.  Staff contacted the remaining two applicants to see if either was still interested in working for the City of Ramsey.  One candidate has already accepted a different position. However, Mr. Jacob Hoel is still available and eager to work for the City. Staff completed the necessary background checks and is recommending that Mr. Jacob Hoel be hired as a full-time Engineering Technician II.  

With the City Council's authorization, Mr. Jacob Hoel will start as the City's new Engineering Technician II on or near March 20, 2023.  Mr. Hoel, as with all City employees recognized by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) bargaining unit, will serve a six-month probationary period and will be subject to the City's Personnel Policy and the AFSCME Labor Agreement. 

The new Engineering Technician II will also provide erosion control inspections on active construction sites, inspect stormwater ponds, review private development and public improvement plans and building permits, and will assist with providing enhanced documentation as recently directed by the MPCA following their recent audit of the City. 

The 2023 funding required to fill this position is $21,911.  This position will reduce the requirement to contract for third party inspections.

Authorize hiring Mr. Jacob Hoel as a full-time Engineering Technician II, effective on or near March 20, 2023, at $29.007 per hour, which is step 1 of the 2023 wage scale.

Motion to hire Mr. Jacob Hoel as a full-time Engineering Technician II, effective on or near March 20, 2023, at $29.007 per hour, which is step 1 of the 2023 wage scale.