An agreement with Austin Peters Group, Inc, a human resources consulting firm based in Overland Park, KS, was approved at Monday’s Knoxville City Council meeting. Interim City Manager Heather Ussery says the firm will conduct a wide range of services, and the goal with this project is to make city positions as competitive as possible compared to other cities.

“They’ll review our current positions, as well as job descriptions and performance reviews. They’ll do a market survey and benefit survey, then report back to the city and help us establish pay scales for our positions, which the city currently doesn’t have. That will help us be more competitive in our positions with outside communities.”

Ussery says the process will take approximately six months to complete, and the firm will provide a plan to implement these changes within the city’s budget.