Minnesota Highways, December 1955

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VOL.  5,  NO.  2
1246  University Ave., St.  Paul 4,  Minn.
DECEMBER,   1955
It's Effective Jan. 1
New Salary Plan Has
Larger Pay Steps
The anticipated new improved pay plan for Minnesota
state civil service employees will become effective January 1.
Oh, happy day!
The new plan includes three basic changes from the
previous salary schedule, as follows:
• Reassignment of salary ranges for the various job
classifications.
• Adoption of four per cent step increases to replace
the previous schedule of fixed dollar increases at various levels.
• Adoption of a schedule of longevity pay raises for employees after they have been at their maximum pay levels
for specified periods. — — ___ -^ _ _ _ _
Purpose of adoption of the new
pay plan is, according to Kermit L.
Bergstralh, Highway department
director of personnel, to:
Eliminate gaps which developed
over a period of years in the old
plan between its seven different
brackets of pay levels, provide
larger pay increase steps, resulting
in higher maximums in most
classes, and to provide longevity
pay increases to employees who
continue with the department for
isiderable period beyond the
iiwr covered by the regular salary increase schedule.
As in the past, the new plan
will continue to be related to
changes in the cost of living index.
Aside from an understanding of
the general changes effected by
the new plan, Highway department employees are particularly
interested in knowing how it will
affect them individually as to the
new pay range for their classification, and the salary level at which
they will enter the new plan.
Ranges   Are   Changed
Table I accompanying this article (on page 6) lists many classified positions in the Highway department and the present and new
salary ranges for each position. Positions not listed will have comparable changes in ranges.
(Continued on page 6)
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Once again we approach the season of Christmas and
the New Year. It is a time to rejoice in our many blessings and to look forward to good things in the months
ahead. It is a time to give active expression to our
friendly regard toward each other, an expression so often neglected in the busy tasks of our daily lives.
The past year has dealt kindly with our nation and
our state. We in the Highway department may mutually share satisfaction and pride for the year now drawing to its close. Working together as a closely knit
team, we have successfully completed the greatest year
of highway construction and maintenance activity in
Minnesota history.
In that accomplishment we have helped to advance
the state's well-being, facilitating travel so that its people have been brought closer together, socially as well
as in business activity. At the same time, the department has played a significant role in materially reducing traffic accidents, thereby saving many families from
the death or injury of their loved ones.
It is a pleasure at this happy season to recall the year's
fine record of public service by you, my fellow members of the Highway department, to express my appreciation of your loyal service and friendship, and to
wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
May Pass 40 Million
'55 Road Building
Sets New Record
For the second successive year, Minnesota in 1955 has
achieved a new all-time record in the amount of money contracted for improvement of its trunk highway system. By early
December, contracts had been let for a total of $39,482,426 of
trunk highway improvements, as compared with $35,154,465
for all of 1954.
In addition, bids are scheduled to be opened December
16 on an estimated $1,294,297 of work. If these contracts are
let at approximately the estimated costs, the total of contracts
let in 1955 by the Highway department will run to about
$40,700,000.
Contracts let in 1955 have been
for widening and improvement of
existing highways to meet increasing traffic loads, and also for ;1.
large amount of new construction.
Contracts let in 1955 for new
paving have totaled $6,251,421
and cover 81.4 miles, while contracts for pavement widening have
totaled  $1,583,527  and  cover  19
miles.  -
For construction of 468.3 miles"
of base and bituminous surfacing,
contracts have been let totaling
$10,114,115. This included 171.9
miles of base and road-mixed surfacing at $3,058,329 and 286.4
miles of base and plant-mixed bituminous surfacing at $7,055,786.
For bituminous surfacing of 124
miles on existing base, contrasts
totaled $1,478,111. This included
16.6 miles of road-mixed surfacing
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at   $88,596   and   107.4   miles  cjf
plant-mixed  surfacing  at  $1,389
515.
Grading is the largest activity of
the year in terms of money. For
364.4 miles of grading, contracts
have been let totaling $15,678,745
for 353.8 miles, with bids to be
opened December 16 on the additional 10.6 miles, estimated to cost
$663,577.
Contracts totaling $3,971,289
have been let this year for 37
bridge structures, with bids sched-
(Continued on page 7)