Rochester City Council sets wages for employees

'To be competitive with other towns we had to get a little aggressive with our longevity plan, but we also had a lot of discrepancies between departments, as far as the pay.'

The Rochester City Council on Tuesday approved a resolution fixing the wages of employees of the city for 2025.

The 2025 salary resolution establishes salaries and hourly pay for all employees of the city, as well as compensation for elected officials and board members serving the city. 

"One thing we've done is we've got everybody kind of on an equal plane, as far as their wages, based on the number of years they've been with us," Mayor Trent Odell said of general raises, adding the city's longevity pay scale has also been increased. "To be competitive with other towns we had to get a little aggressive with our longevity plan, but we also had a lot of discrepancies between departments, as far as the pay."

The base rate for employees is $20 per hour. That rate can increase up to $30.50 per hour, based on certifications and experience. 

"Any changes within that range are allowable without having a public meeting, but it will be done with a discussion of my department heads and myself because I don't want any one department to change their pay midstream of the year without the other departments knowing," Odell said. "I want everybody to stay equal, minus any certifications."

Odell noted that his salary will not increase next year. 

"I don't feel comfortable taking a raise and then hitting my community with a rate increase," he said. 

A three-phase rate increase is likely imminent, as the city issues bonds for a water utility improvement project including distribution system and storage improvements, replacements and/or extensions and replacements of customer service lines known to contain lead. The work also includes all preliminary engineering, design engineering, bidding, construction engineering, onsite resident project representative inspection during construction and other associated work necessary for completion of the project.

The proposed 2025 salaries and hourly wages are as follows:

Police Department 

Chief, $71,120; lieutenant, $69,120; sergeant, $67,120; corporal, $65,120; first class patrolman, $63,120; probationary patrolman, $52,500; systems administrator, $62,080; ordinance officer, $20 per hour; training officer, $1,500; specialty certifcation (K9, FTO, CSI), $1,000; office staff, $7.25 to $30.25 per hour; special detail, an hourly rate factoring overtime plus longevity.

Clothing allowances also are included for police officers and firefighters.

Fire Department

Chief, $71,120; assistant chief, $69,120; captain, $67,120; lieutenant/investigator, $65,120; first class firefighter, $63,120; probationary firefighter, $52,500.

In addition, the city budgets $17 per run for volunteer firefighters and a $50 payment if they work a 12-hour shift.

Emergency medical technicians would receive an additional $1,500 and safety officers $1,000 annually.

Street Department 

The street superintendent would receive $75,190 annually, $71,120 from the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund and $4,070 from the Park Operating Fund for serving as park foreman.

Street department employees that hold a valid Commercial Driver's License will receive a $1.50 increase. 

Elected officials 

Each seven members of the Rochester City Council will be paid $4,500. 

Mayor Trent Odell's pay is set at $70,500, and Clerk-Treasurer Beth Stocking's at $76,500. Both are paid from portions of the city's general fund, as well as the city water and wastewater departments' budgets.

General labor 

Minimum wage to $30.50 per hour for full-time and part-time positions.

Parks Department 

Park superintendent, $40,000; park supervisor, $25,000; golf pro/manager, 59,000; golf superintendent/maintenance, $59,000; golf maintenance and pro shop, up to $20 per hour; golf seasonal, up to $18 per hour; golf seasonal (carts), up to $15 per hour; pool director and assistant director, up to $15,000; pool lifeguards, up to $18 per hour; parks general labor, up to $25 per hour; park board members, $3,000 each.

Others

The superintendents of the water and wastewater departments will receive $75,190 annually. Employees of the water and wastewater departments will follow a rate pay scale based on certification held and experience. The hourly rate range will be $20 to $30.50. Rochester Water Board members will be paid $3,000 annually. The city's project manager/engineer liaison will receive $66,000 annually.

The city attorney will be paid $38,000 for the year, plus additional compensation not to exceed $225 per hour for services beyond normal day-to-day duties.

Longevity pay 

Effective Jan. 1, 2025, all full-time employees will receive modified longevity pay in addition to their regular salary. After three years, employees will receive $1,000. Longevity pay would increase to $2,500 after five years, $5,000 after 10, $7,500 after 15 and finally to a maximum of $10,000 with 20 yeras of service. 

All full-time and permanent part-time city employees, elected officials, Water Board members, Board of Public Works and Safety members and Park Board appointees may receive free swimming pool and/or golf course membership (single or family, spouse and children only) for him or herself. This does not apply to golf carts or cart passes or for temporary seasonal staff
working less than 30 days.

The city also offers a wellness program to all full-time employees and elected officials. Employees have a choice of either declining or entrolling in the program, which is fully funded by the city. These employees will have a choice of either declining or enrolling
in the program. The program is designed to encourage all full-time employees to take an active approach to improving their health.