Regular visitors to Gretna City Hall have likely noticed changes in staff in the last few months.
Mayor Sally McGuire said Deputy City Clerk and Treasurer Chris Christensen resigned in mid-December. She said she could not elaborate on why Christensen left.
Joanette Zach, permit tech, retired. McGuire said her last day at work was Jan. 13. Also, the position of electrical inspector, Jeff Nesbit, was eliminated in the summer.
McGuire said City Hall administrative staff is trying to cut back on the budget because of the loss of state aid and because the number of building permits has stalled.
McGuire said Christensen and Zach's replacements will work part-time.
One administrative assistant part-time position has been posted on the city's website. The person will work 30 hours and be responsible to support functions to internal city staff and external customers, serve as the first contact for customers, citizens and developers needing assistance and serve as a liaison between the public and professional staff.
The electrical inspector will not get replaced because there is not enough work. McGuire said the City of Gretna contracted with the City of Papillion and an inspector visits Gretna every Wednesday.
Another change at City Hall can be found in the updated employee handbook and policy manual. The Gretna City Council approved it at the Jan. 17 meeting.
McGuire said employees will now pay a higher percentage on insurance premiums and the retirement policy for employees also changed.
Another change is how employees get time off to vote, but that privilege has been withdrawn.
Employees also used to have longevity pay. McGuire said longevity pay was a bonus given to employees who had reached the top of their wage schedule. However, that has also been deleted from the employee handbook and policy manual.
In an effort to increase city revenue, the city council approved a new master fee schedule in December. Some business owners have contacted city staff, City Council members and the Gretna Area Chamber of Commerce about their concerns in increasing and establishing new business fees.
City Administrator Colleen Lawry said, although the master fee schedule will remain in effect, the council agreed to hear from the chamber executive board.
McGuire, City Clerk Tammy Tisdall and council members Jeff Wollenburg and Doug Clark will hear a presentation from Chamber President Brad Stauffer and Vice President Carrol Murray. Lawry said the presentation is expected to be a list of some of the fees that the chamber executive board believes the city council should review again and what the chamber board thinks the fee should be. Then the city committee will hear the presentation, discuss and decide the next step.
Letters are expected to be mailed to businesses within the Gretna city limits from City Hall soon. Fees are due March 15.
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