The Elmwood Township Board raised wages for its marina and building and grounds employees Monday, as they try to secure their portion of the limited number of workers in the area.
Harbormaster Dan Jenuwine recommended raising marina employees’ wages so the township can compete with other employers in the hospitality industry. According to Jenuwine, employees at marinas with fuel docks make more than $25 per hour through wages and tips, and servers at restaurants can make more than $30 per hour.
“The competition for part-time and full-time seasonal employees in the Traverse City area is tremendous and is only going to get worse,” Jenuwine wrote in a presentation to the board. “With the limited employee pool, the marina must establish itself as the highest paying employer of seasonal employees in the area to attract the best of the best employees.”
