The Clearwater City Council Monday voted to move ahead with a search for a permanent part-time financial staff person.

Administrator Kevin Kress said some members of the council and staff had talked about ending the contract with AEM - the city’s current financial advisor.

“So far the feedback I’ve gotten on this is, it’s the direction that not only the city council wants go, but this is the direction that city staff would like to go,” he said.

Kress presented the council with a complete job description for the position and a wage scale. So far, the position doesn’t have a specific title.

Responsibilities of the position would include organizing and directing the financial operations of the city, including preparing and administering the city’s budget, supervising accounting, payroll, purchasing and financial reporting. 

The position would also develop and update long-range capital planning, including the five-year capital improvement plan.

“I think it’s going to be an average of 20 (hours per week). That’s going to go up and down,” he said. “When we get our audit going and our budget going, I think it’s going to be higher than that, maybe 25 to 30 hours.”

Kress said he talked with other city staff about it and they were in favor of having an on-site financial staff person. He said many cities have a their own financial staff.

Councilman Kris Crandall asked about the impact on the budget.

“How does this compare to what we’re paying now?” he asked.

Kress said last year’s contract amount to AEM was $39,906. In the wage scale, if a new staff was paid the proposed $25 per hour for Step 1, the amount would be $32,500.

“After awhile there would be PERA and a couple other  things,” said Kress.

But the on-site person would be more convenient and would put in more hours than AEM.

“If there’s an issue with water or sewer or a journal entry, we can essentially get an answer right there,” said Kress. “You don’t have to wait.”

“I want to make sure we don’t come up short on skill set,” said Crandall.

Councilman Petty agreed the city shouldn’t hire anyone who had to be trained. He said he had nothing against AEM, but he liked the idea of a city staff financial person.

“I’m for putting anyone in here who has a vested interest in our city,” he said.

Kress said the city could also use AEM for specific projects that required a team effort, like doing a rate study or helping with the annual audit.

“We still have the option of using them, just not a yearly contract,” he said.

Mayor Andrea Lawrence said the city could continue to contract with AEM if they couldn’t find a qualified person.

“If we go out and search and don’t get anybody, we can stick with AEM next year,” she said.

The council voted unanimously to accept the job description and wage scale, and gave Kress the go-ahead to post for the position.