The Pella City Council approved the final contract for work completed at Elm Street over the summer at their meeting Tuesday.

The council approved a change order that will actually decrease the cost by approximately $7,000 for the $438,000 road reconstruction and water system improvements, completed by Blommers Construction. A resolution approving a development agreement between the City of Pella and Pella Christian Grade School was also approved. At policy and planning following regular business, the council received information from a study conducted about employee compensation.

The salary survey did identify some positions whose entry compensation levels were below market, and the proposed plan includes internal equity adjustments which are necessary to ensure separation exists in compensation levels between newly hired employees and employees who have been with the City for a number of years. The intention of a proposed step system is to reward employees for superior performance during their annual review. The estimated cost to adopt the new wage scales is approximately $200,000, and city staff is proposing to utilize funds allocated for the FY 18-19 cost of living adjustment to fund the plan’s adoption. Presentations will be made to the city’s workforce about potential changes over the next two months, with the Pella City Council planning to review further possible action in December.