Lake City Report - Feb 12, 2010
Personnel Policy revision,
Strategic Plan, Bond debt review
Columbia County, FL (Posted
Feb 13,
2010, at 8:00 am)
by City Manager Wendell Johnson and
staff
From City Manager Wendell Johnson
Personnel Policy Revision
The planning draft of the new City Personnel Manual
has been on-going for several months and is
approximately 40% complete. The new policy will provide
information regarding employee working conditions,
benefits, and other policies concerning all City
personnel activities. It is intended to replace
the City’s current policy dated 1995.
A critical element of the new policy is the
“Classification and Pay Plan,” which is a systematic
listing of all City employees by classification,
department, pay level, hire date, FLSA and EEO status.
The Plan also includes a matrix which integrates the
classifications and wage levels from the Evergreen Study
which was adopted by the City Council in 2008.
The final draft of the Classification and Pay Plan is
undergoing validation by the Human Resource and Finance
Staff and will ultimately be incorporated as an integral
chapter of the new Personnel Policy.
Tentatively, the Council will be requested to
consider approval of “Classification and Pay” element of
the Personnel Manual during March 2010.
Economic Strategic Plan
The Rudder Team has completed preparation of its
Columbia County’s Economic “Plan of Action, a.k.a., the
“Go-To-Market” Plan which outlines the strategy for
Columbia County’s economic future.
The Plan was prepared by a team of public and
business leaders during the last six months of 2009 and
was presented this week in a joint workshop discussion
between the County Commission and Industrial Development
Authority. It will be presented for approval by the
Columbia BOCC at their next meeting on February 18,
2010.
IDA Executive Director Jim Poole advised that he will
arrange to present the Plan for Council consideration of
approval during March 2010.
Bond Debt – Staff Review
The Staff continues the evaluation process relating
to refunding options for the City’s existing bond debt.
Two objectives of the review are:
1) Evaluate the potential
for General Fund revenue generation for capital
improvement needs
2) Determine the potential for Utility Fund debt
enhancement, which is a concern considering the City’s
need to finance the Kicklighter WWTP.
The management and legal processes for moving ahead
with this effort are in order and the staff will propose
a Council workshop for March 1, 2010. During
the workshop, Council will be fully apprised regarding
the financial benefits of this Sales Tax and Utility
refunding opportunity.
The City Staff Report is available in pdf format
here.
