(KMZA)--The Seneca City Council has approved an updated pay plan for city employees.

Seneca City Administrator Tami Haverkamp told MSC News that the Council took the action when they meet last week.

Haverkamp said it's a step plan based on years of service and includes a merit range for each position once the employee has moved through those steps.

She said the primary goal of the updated plan is to retain recent hires and be competitive moving forward. Haverkamp said turnover within the police department, in addition to the fact that the city has several employees edging toward retirement, prompted the need for a plan that reflects more accurately starting wages in today's market.

The new pay plan takes effect next month.