Iolas electric distribution employees are in line for significant raises.
City Council members voted, 7-0, Tuesday for the pay hikes, effective at the start of the next pay period, which begins Monday.
In so doing, they acknowledge the potential ripple effect that could result with one city department getting a sudden pay increase.
The pay hikes will boost the electric departments salaries an average of 19 percent, or about $60,000 above what Council members had budgeted for 2020.
The boost puts Iola back into a more competitive salary scale with other municipalities, Electric Distribution Superintendent Jim Baker noted.
Weve been behind the 8 ball for quite some time, Baker said. Nothing was said until we started losing guys. If we were competitive, I wouldnt be down here talking to you.
Baker said he has lost three linemen in the past four months.
A recent staffing study by Wichita State University further clarified the pay gap.
Iolas apprentice and journeyman lineman workers are paid lower, across the board, than several other communities surveyed and the numbers werent close in many cases.
An apprentice lineman in Iola averaged between $16.11 and $21.80 per hour, a difference of $4 per hour for the newcomers, to $8 per hour by the time they reached the top of their respective pay scales.
The same was true for journeyman lineman and assistant lineman supervisor positions.
I dont think the debate is if the electric department is way out of line in terms of salaries, Mayor Jon Wells said. We agree on that. The question is about implementation and the other departments.
Councilwoman Nancy Ford agreed.
My big concern is there will be a ripple effect, and there will be people upset, Ford said, anticipating other departments will soon approach asking What about us?
How do we handle this? she asked.
Fleming told Council members he was putting together a process to evaluate the remaining departments.
Id rather not be a part of this decision, honestly, because Im not going to be around to solve the problems this creates, Councilman Aaron Franklin said, noting he is leaving office in January.
The electric department needs to be addressed, he elaborated. This is setting a precedent and will create issues other people have to resolve. We are making decisions to spend money. We will have to raise rates somewhere.
