Ironwood City Commission may add human resources director

By PAMELA JANSSON

pjansson@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood — The Ironwood City Commission approved on Monday evening a budget amendment that could help to pave the way to hire a human resources director.

Paul Linn, the city’s treasurer and finance director, made the request for the $88,000 amendment while announcing that the person now serving as clerk II-treasurer plans to retire by the end of the year after 39 years of service.

Linn said it is “the perfect time” to restructure staff to serve the city’s needs better.

Regarding the human resources role, Linn said, “We currently do not have that position here at the city of Ironwood.”

Given that the city has about 45 employees, he said of such a job, “It’s definitely warranted to serve our employees in a better capacity.”

In addition to hiring a human resources director, Linn also suggested hiring another person who could assist him, as the clerk II-treasurer does.

“We haven’t solidified the title just yet,” he said, but added that the role would expand beyond that of the current clerk’s duties.

He envisions the person hired for that job as being involved in budget and investment analysis, along with other responsibilities.

“The hope would be to bring these two employees on in November,” said Linn, adding that such timing would allow for training with the retiring employee.

Linn said the $88,000 figure would allow the two envisioned employees to be funded with salary and benefits until the start of the next fiscal year, at which time they then would need to be budgeted for the entire successive year.

In helping to lobby for Linn’s proposal, city manager Paul Anderson said that city clerk Jennifer Jacobson has been addressing purchasing orders while he, Linn, the clerk II-treasurer and other staff have been sharing duties that could be allotted to the pending human resources manager.

Just before voting in favor of the budget amendment, commissioner James Mildren said, “This motion does not tie us to your proposal. There’s a lot of good things in here, and there’s things I’m not sure of.”

The commission will address the issue again at future meetings.