by Dave DeMars
news@thenewsleaders.com
Payment of wages by direct deposit to firefighters and other city employees became an issue of contention at the Nov. 21 meeting of the Rice City Council as council members wrestled with the question of whether it should be mandated or employee choice.
Mayor Dale Rogholt led off the discussion by stating as he understood it, the issue had been resolved and passed in December 2014 as a consent-agenda item. There was no discussion, and a resolution to initiate direct deposit was passed. Rogholt clarified further, saying for some unexplained reason that resolution was never made clear to employees nor was it implemented. Rogholt proposed a compromise position.
“What I would recommend is that this year, we write the checks manually as we did in the past, but beginning one-one-seventeen (Jan. 1, 2017), we will follow this (the 2014 resolution) to the ‘T,’” Rogholt said.
“No, Dale,” said council member Allen Voigt, “we did have discussion on this resolution.”
Voigt continued, saying it may have been on the consent agenda, but he remembered specifically asking about it because he was under the impression it was for the six full-time employees.
“I said, if they want it, they can have it, but they don’t have to have it,” Voigt said. “I was led to believe that that was not a problem.”
With that understanding, Voigt said he had been willing to approve the direct-deposit resolution. Now he was asking what the present position outlined by Rogholt would replace.
Rogholt explained the recommendation he made replaces nothing. The resolution had been passed unanimously and the date he had referred to (Jan.1, 2017) was simply an implementation date because the resolution had not been implemented even though it had been passed and should have been implemented earlier.
Voigt took issue. The resolution went through on the consent agenda and the people affected had no say in the decision at the time, Voigt said.
“They still don’t because on Jan. 1, 2017, we are going to implement this resolution,” Rogholt said.
“You don’t need it,” Voigt said. “It’s common knowledge we have to pay people.”
Rogholt said the fire chief had said he wished the city had direct deposit.
That’s fine for him, Voigt said, but some people don’t want it. Let’s just leave it as you can have it (direct deposit) if you want it, but you don’t have to have it if you don’t want it. The issue is some city employees are concerned that bank-account numbers will be compromised in the process. Those employees want some sort of guarantee.
“How many times has there been a compromise?” Rogholt asked. “I’m one of the affected people and I have no concern the city is going to give out my account number.”
“I don’t know,” Voigt said, “but that is not the point. What happens if something should happen to that number. Is the city responsible?”
Council member Paula Kampa said with a check that was issued, there was a time limit to report a check had bounced or was misappropriated. The comment was apparently meant as a reference to a time in 2014 when the Rice city clerk was charged with theft by swindle for issuing an extra check to herself for her personal use.
Voigt worried direct deposit would allow for that type of crime and there would be less ability to track the swindle. At least with paper checks, bank-account numbers aren’t an issue. The paper can be traced. The whole of the issue is some city employees do not want to give their bank-account numbers to the city treasurer.
“They don’t trust us – they don’t trust the city? Rogholt asked.
“Look at what happened with trust before (current city clerk) Stephanie (Fischer) got here,” said Voigt, referring to a former employee (before Fischer) who swindled money via checks from the city. “Look what happened to our trusting before.”
Voigt maintained his position, saying payment should be made in the way in which the employee is most comfortable, but there should be no mandated method for payment using direct deposit. Payment could be made by check just as easily. He maintained he had talked to employees, and they were strongly opposed to having to use direct deposit. Employees should be given the choice, he said.
Council member Chris Scheel said that would be a duplicate payment system and a waste of time and money.
Kampa said she had not had a chance to talk with people, and she wanted to poll those who would be affected. In order to do that, she asked the issue be tabled. For the time being, the issue was tabled and is expected to be an agenda item at the next meeting.
In other council business:
● Council authorized a Request For Proposal for a civil-engineering company. Proposals may be presented to the city between now and Wednesday, Dec. 21 so they can be reviewed by council members for discussion at the Jan. 3 meeting.
● Authorized an RFP from companies wishing to develop a comprehensive parks plan for the city of Rice. Cost of the plan will be up to $15,000 as discussed at previous meetings. RFP’s are due in by close of business on Friday, Dec. 30.
● Approved the gambling permit for the Church of the Immaculate Conception to hold its raffle Jan. 29.
● Approved Tri-County Insurance of Sauk Rapids as the insurance carrier for Rice.
● Authorized council member Kampa to work with Police Chief Ross Hamann to solicit donations for the city’s portion of the electronic speed-limit sign. The city’s cost will be $3,500. The police department won a matching OSHA grant but needs to raise funds to meet obligations.
● Heard report from city clerk Stephanie Fischer on receiving evidence dealing with investigation of former clerk. Material included computer hard drives, cell phone and a Toshiba laptop computer. Discussion concerned whether to dispose of the material, how to dispose of it and whether any city department had use for the materials.
● Council authorized sending a signed fire contract to Watab Township for two years of coverage with no changes other than dates. The contract would become operative upon the township signing and returning the contract to the city.
