City Council Minutes 09-08-2025 SpecialMINUTES
MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
Monday, September 8, 2025 — 5:00 p.m.
Monticello Community Center
Present: Lloyd Hilgart, Charlotte Gabler, Kip Christianson, Tracy Hinz, and Lee Martie
Absent: None
Staff: Rachel Leonard, Sarah Rathlisberger, Angela Schumann, Matt Leonard, Bob
Ferguson, Jim Thares, Tory-, Pawelk, and Stephanie Trottier
1.
2.
Call to Order
Mayor Lloyd Hilgart called the special meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
Compensation Study Overview and Budget Impact
Human Resource Manager Tracy Ergen introduced Saado Abboud from Keystone
Compensation Group, who conducted the City's compensation study. Mr. Abboud
presented a summary of his findings to the City Council. The report contained non-
public data in accordance with MN State Statute 13.435, Salary and Benefit Survey Data,
and was not made public.
Mr. Abboud outlined the methodology used to compare job classifications, grade levels,
and salaries across nineteen peer cities. The study found that Monticello's average pay
level is 91%, below that of the competitive range of 95%-105%.
He noted that the City's current pay structure includes 17 grades, which will remain
unchanged. The estimated cost to transition to the updated pay system is $79,000.
City Administrator Rachel Leonard informed the Council that two key decisions will be
needed at an upcoming meeting: (1) whether to adopt the new pay system, and (2)
whether to adjust salaries in 2026 by 2.5% or 3% to ensure the City remains competitive
within the market.
3. Adjournment
By consensus, the meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
Recorder: Jennifer Schreiber
W - I
City Administrator
City Council Special Meeting Minutes — September 8, 2025