PUD increases pay for appointees

EPHRATA — On the heels of last week's approval of a three-year union contract and wage increases for non-union employees the Grant County Public Utility District, commissioners approved salary changes for commission appointees Monday.

The resolution on commission appointees' salaries was originally scheduled to be decided during last week's meeting, but the commissioners delayed their decision until yesterday.

After a two-hour executive session, the commissioners approved the salary adjustments for the general manager, treasurer-controller, auditor, deputy auditor and attorney.

Among the salary figures provided after the meeting by the PUD, General Manager Tim Culbertson will now be earning $180,000 annually. Auditor Kim Justice will start earning $98,148.96 annually while Deputy Auditor Rhonda Kleyn will make $75,486.32, after Monday's adjustments.

The new salary figures for the PUD's attorney and treasurer-controller were not available by deadline Tuesday.

During the May 31 commission meeting, the three-year contract with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 77 was completed and set to run from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2008 and established pay rates, hours of work and other employment conditions. The union's PUD employees had previously agreed to the terms through a majority vote.

Effectively, the PUD commission approved 2005 pay increases of just more than 5 percent for union journeymen level employees. For both of the final two years of the contract those employees will see additional annual wage increases of 3 percent. During the same three-year contract, other union positions will receive 2 percent wage increases.

Also at the May 31 PUD meeting, the commission approved a 2 percent wage increase for the next 12 months for non-union employees with satisfactory performance evaluations.

A motion was also approved Monday allowing the PUD manager to execute a contract for professional services with SPL Worldgroup, Inc. The PUD will receive assistance in the upgrade of their PeopleSoft Customer Service Information system software. The contract will be completed by Aug. 31, 2006 and is not to exceed $275,000.

According to the PUD, the CIS system upgrade will both reduce hardware costs and keep users up to date. PUD will do most of the work with the system upgrade, but SPL will provide their expertise throughout the process.

Commissioner Greg Hansen, however, initially questioned the actual dollar figure and language of the contract. Specifically, Hansen was concerned that the PUD could eventually pay too much for the travel of SPL employees during the contract. He was also concerned that the PUD staff would be performing the majority of the work during the project, while SPL was contracted to "assist" in the upgrade.

A motion was approved for the transfer of 2005 budget funds to the remodel at the PUD's Ephrata Service Center. Used for purchasing and warehousing, the building will receive an improved file storage area, a new conference room and the addition of a suspended ceiling. The remodel will also include the removal of one wall.