There will be a change coming the city of Medical Lake, at least in terms of how they do business.
During the May 6 City Council meeting, City Administrator Doug Ross brought forth an ordinance that would establish new business hours for the city. Under the ordinance, business hours for the city would run Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting June 1.
City Hall’s current business hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with five employees who work three shifts. Ross explained that if someone is absent due to illness or is on vacation, the city has to ask one of the employees to work extra hours or have someone else come in to fill that spot.
With the new business hours, all of the employees would work the same shift.
Another reason for the change is the light amount of foot traffic that comes through City Hall in the later hours.
Ross said with residents using the city’s website to submit payments for utilities, registration and court, there are less people coming in and out of City Hall in later in the afternoon.
“The days of doing business face-to-face at City Hall is sort of waning a bit,” Ross said. “I’ve sat up there from 4-5 (p.m.) and there is little to no foot traffic. It’s much simpler and a more efficient operation, if employees work the same shift.”
Finance director Jennifer Hough added that most of City Hall’s business comes is from 8 a.m. to noon.
Councilman Howard Jorgensen asked about employees’ lunch break. City Attorney Cynthia McMullen said employees get a paid 30-minute lunch with two 15-minute breaks, which has been in the contract for the last 25 years. Ross said employees would combine the breaks. Hough said employees will take lunch at different times and there will always be at least two employees working in City Hall at all times.
Hough said the new hours would eliminate overtime for city employees.
“If someone comes after 4 p.m. to get their water turned back on, we have to call the water people to fix that and pay them two hours of overtime,” Hough said.
Hough added that City Hall would still be operating 40 hours per week, but would spend five hours a week less money on utilities.
● In other business, the council had the first reading of Ordinance 1036, which reissues a franchise agreement under Zayo Group, LLC for 15 years for a fiber optic cable to serve the Medical Lake School District.
● Ross said the Planning Commission is discussing marijuana and looking at all options, including drafting a special ordinance or banning marijuana from the city.
● The public hearing for the Six-Year Transportation Improvement Plan is set for the May 20 City Council meeting.
● The city renewed the Department of Corrections Community Work Service agreement.
● Councilman A.J. Burton said there would be a Joint Land Use Study meeting May 16.
● The council also approved the motion to hold council meetings on the third Tuesday of the month from June through September.
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
Reader Comments(0)