IRON MOUNTAIN — Voters will be asked in November to adopt a change in Iron Mountain’s charter to end civil service exams for entry-level positions in the police, fire and public works departments, the city council decided Monday.

A ballot measure that would have repealed all of the city’s civil service system was rejected by voters in 2016 — 1,811 no to 1,280 yes — but city officials believe this proposal stands a better chance.

“We hope it’s a good compromise the public will see,” City Manager Jordan Stanchina said.

Once the ballot language is cleared through state attorney general’s office, the city will offer a fact sheet.

Under the current hiring system, the list of candidates is limited to those who have taken an exam, Stanchina explained. If a position comes open, candidates may no longer be interested, as there could be a lag of two or three years between tests.

“Too many times, the lists are running short,” Stanchina said.

An exam system seems obsolete when Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards are in place for police hirings, council member Ken Clawson said.

Stanchina said he believes the only other entity in the Upper Peninsula hiring through civil service exams is Kingsford Public Safety Department. The proposed change for Iron Mountain would keep the civil service system in place for promotions and disciplinary hearings, he added.

The council voted 5-0 to move the proposal forward, with members Nathan Zemar and Cathy Tomassoni absent. At its July 5 meeting, the council plans to consider a second ballot measure for November that would increase council pay to $30 per meeting, up to a maximum of $1,500 per year. The current $10 per meeting at a maximum of $500 per year has been in place since 1985. The proposal was endorsed 4-1 Monday, but with two members absent that was one vote short of what’s needed to seek a charter change. Clawson, who has said the council should be volunteers, was the lone dissenter.

City Attorney Gerry Pirkola clarified the motion could later be reconsidered. To ensure that, Mayor Dale Alessandrini reintroduced the subject and the council voted unanimously to table it.