Care center’s Ness, longtime maintenance man Nissen step down
By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
The New Richland City Council accepted four resignations, including Chuck Ness, Care Center Administrator, longtime maintenance man Ryan Nissen, and two part-time police officers, at its regular meeting, Monday, May 10.
NR Care Center
The resignation of Administrator Ness was effective immediately.
The only initial discussion following the announcement of the resignation was a question from councilperson Jody Wynnemer. “Is there some kind of bug going around with all these resignations?”
“I’m not going to discuss it here,” replied Mayor Gail Schmidt. “But I know. I know that. I can’t discuss it. It’s nothing personal. I don’t think it’s because of us. But we would be the last to know. So I don’t know. It’s just a change in occupation and things like that.”
Discussion
Later in the meeting, councilperson Jason Casey asked what the city plans to do with the care center and how they will hire a new director.
The care center interim director will be Dave Vandergon until the care center is ready to hire a new director. Vandergon is a retired former director who works with Advanced Health Institute. AHI is a long-term, post-acute care consulting firm based out of Bloomington, MN that has been operating since 2014.
Councilperson Loren Skelton has been working as a liaison between the council, care center and AHI. He said AHI has been working in the care center for roughly three weeks, and is making recommendations in roughly nine areas including finance, morale, leadership, staffing, and “everything that was going on in there from the surveys and the things that happened last year.”
Searching for a new director while working with AHI
Councilperson Skelton: “I don’t know how long [hiring a new director is] going to take. Three months. Four months.”
Councilpersons agreed that it could take a long time.
Mayor Schmidt: “So you’re kind of letting them steer us through it?”
Councilperson Skelton: “These are the experts [AHI]. That’s why they're hired. They know this business. I am truly impressed with these people. They are very knowledgeable and seem to know what to do and how to do it [...] The only thing that’s truly going to fix the financial [situation] is that we have to get more revenue. We just can’t operate at 10 residents below what you need to break even. That’s a huge thing that they’re trying to figure out how to do, but it hasn’t been very successful yet.
Mayor Schmidt: “But the issue with the census is no reflection on our facility?”
Councilperson Skelton: “No. No, absolutely not.”
Councilperson Casey inquired whether it was an option to sell the care center to be run by a private entity.
Mayor Schmidt: “It’s not right now. […] I think the biggest fear is that a company would come in [...] and it would be all about the bottom line. Not so much the care, but the bottom line.”
Councilperson Skelton: That’s the problem with third party organizations. Whether it’s this place or another place. They’re about making money. And they’ll run it how they see fit and we’ll be out of the picture. We’ll have no control and I think that will make a lot of residents and potential residents there very upset, because it is kind of the pride of the community. People admire that building and the services and what it does for their family members.”
Councilperson Casey: “I agree.”
Councilperson Skelton: “I would hate [for it] to not be in the control of the city. Even if I wasn’t on council, if I was a resident, because I’ll probably be there someday, you know, so I want it to stay.”
New business
The council reluctantly accepted the resignation of longtime maintenance man Nissen. There was a lot of discussion regarding the difficulty to replace Nissen. A discussion took place Tuesday, May 11 with full-time maintenance man Erik Hendrickson to help determine the plan to replace Nissen.
Mayor Schmidt read his letter of resignation aloud:
“I’m writing to let you know I am resigning from my position as maintenance supervisor. My last day of employment will be Monday, May 24. I would like to thank the current and past councils for the opportunity to work for the city of New Richland for the past 21 years. It has been my pleasure. I wish the council and staff the best of success in the future. I look forward to helping Erik and city staff make the transition.”
St. Olaf Lifeguard Program
The council approved ads to be placed in multiple area newspapers to hire lifeguards to allow for the possible return of the St. Olaf Lake swimming program.
Computer purchase
The council approved the purchase of a new computer for the city administrator’s office at the cost of $1,400.
Painting the community room
A bid from MG’s Painting and Drywall, for $850 was accepted to paint the inside of the community building.
Consent agenda
At the beginning of the meeting, the consent agenda items were approved. The financial statements for February and March were approved. A banking ordinance to allow the mayor, deputy mayor and new city administrator to sign checks was approved.
Ambulance department report
Assistant City Administrator SaraJo Vulcan delivered the Ambulance Department report. Director Sarah Sundve could not attend the meeting.
The department has responded to a total of 50 calls through the end of April. The council approved a request of an application for a new EMT student. Vulcan said the new EMT trainees are doing well.
EMS week is next week and the ambulance department has a schedule of events beginning Mon., May 17.
Monday - Attending a REACH Class at NRHEG high school to deliver a stop the bleed course
Tuesday - Attending a REACH Class at NRHEG high school to demonstrate CPR
Wednesday - Vital check at New Richland Ambulance bay from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday/Friday - Attending preschool classes in Ellendale
Saturday - Donating items for the Erik Matson benefit in Waseca
The Ambulance Department report was accepted.
Fire department report
There was no fire department report because director Josh Moen doesn’t feel he needs to attend meetings. He told the mayor that he doesn’t have to attend meetings unless he has a request to make. Mayor Schmidt said the council is not able approve a report they don’t have.
Police department report
Police Chief Anthony Martens delivered the police report. The department responded to 131 calls for service in April, bringing the yearly total to 492 calls. In 2020, the department responded to 441 calls for service through the month of April.
Two resignations were accepted from officers Tanyce Bruegger and Gage Horn. Both resigned to take full-time positions within the Waseca Police Department. Chief Martens said it is an unfortunate reality that New Richland serves as a “way station” for officers because the city can only hire part-time officers. The council approved the search for two additional part-time officers. Chief Martens said there are five remaining part-time officers.
Chief Martens requested a new docking station and stand for the other computer in the police department office to be used by new officer Josh Knutson. The council approved the purchase at the cost of $100.
The council approved $1,100 for ammunition necessary for officer McCain’s firearms training. Chief Martens assured the council that these costs would be reimbursed.
The council also approved the purchase of new tires for the police cruiser prior to accepting the police department report.
PeopleService report
The council welcomed Alice Johnson as the new people service manager for the city. She will attend the next meeting and give the PeopleService report during its usual time. The council approved the brief March report stating the water treatment plant is in good working order.
The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.