Colfax approves two 50-cent raises for public works employee

By LeAnn R. Ralph

COLFAX —  The Colfax Village Board and the village board’s personnel committee have approved two 50-cent per hour raises for Tim Rundle, Colfax Department of Public Works employee.

The Colfax Village Board and the personnel committee held a joint meeting March 5 and met in closed session to conduct employee performance evaluations.

The personnel committee includes all village board members.

Rundle received the first 50-cent per hour pay increase because he had passed the water operator certification tests effective February 1 of this year, according to Lynn Niggemann, village administrator-clerk-treasurer. 

Rundle will receive another 50-cent per hour pay increase after he has completed the sewer utility and lagoon certifications, she said.

The village board/personnel committee voted unanimously to approve the two pay increases for Rundle.

The village board/personnel committee also voted unanimously to table the employee performance evaluation until May 29 for the police patrol officer, Niggemann said.

Gary Stene serves as village president, and village trustees on the board are Mark Halpin, Carey Davis, David Wolff, Anne Jenson, Casey Rihn and Keith Burcham.

The Colfax Village Board approved creating another full-time employee position for the department of public works at a beginning wage of $16 to $19 per hour in October of 2016.

In addition to Rundle’s employment in public works, Rand Bates serves as director of public works, and Don Logslett is the street supervisor. 

Keinn Steffe previously was employed as a 32-hour per week public works employee and started his employment with the village already certified as a water and wastewater operator. 

Steffe accepted a full-time position in Ridgeland in the fall of 2016, and the village was unable to find another person willing to work part-time and also obtain certification as a water and wastewater operator. 

Prior to Steffe leaving for full-time employment, the Colfax Village Board had been unwilling to create another full-time position for the department of public works.