New Richland City Council
By ELI LUTGENS
Editor
The New Richland City Council met for its regular meeting March 8, prior to moving to a closed meeting to discuss performance reviews of ambulance personnel.
Ambulance Report
Acting Director Sara Sundve was present to deliver the ambulance report and stated the department has responded to 31 calls this year.
“We have not missed any calls since I’ve taken over as acting director,” said Director Sundve. “I just wanted to clarify that.”
A special request by Director Sundve was approved by council to not only forgive the remaining balance owed for training courses, but to pay an unnamed crew member $300. The cost of the EMT training course is $1600 and is paid by the city. The cost is then paid back by the crewmember through their first year of work. This particular crewmember, which council declined to name because of privacy concerns, had $300 of work left to do to pay off the remaining balance of their debt to the city.
Director Sundve said she would like to see the crewmember paid half of the $600 reimbursement from the state for this past month of work.
“It’s frustrating to hear that we get all these reimbursements and we never get them,” responded Mayor Gail Schmidt. She went on to say that she would not like to see retroactive payments made to ambulance crew for previous training.
Councilperson Jason Casey weighed in, “I also think that you just told her to be the director. And I think that’s a director decision. If she knows and thinks that that's the best policy going forward, and say it’s only a one time policy, its not a precedence for a blanket policy for everyone.”
Director Sundve argued that the city should pay this individual because she is one of the only EMTs still actively working for the department and assisting her. Other EMTs are reportedly not responding to calls, coming to work, or answering simple questions when asked. Director Sundve said this crewmember has not shown up to work in the past, but they are now.
“Nobody’s answering me,” said Director Sundve. “Some of them don’t feel they have to communicate with me because I’m only acting director. I’m put in a hard place.”
This was problematic when trying to recover “very expensive” radios and pagers from inactive crewmembers. The department is required to have nine, but Director Sundve reported only three have been located.
Mayor Schmidt scolded Director Sundve, “As an acting director you should be doing the duties of the director. Don’t be afraid to do anything that a director is supposed to be doing. You are the director; you do it.”
To help address problems within the ambulance department, an executive committee was formed to work with EMSRB.
The initial people and departments involved with the committee are: Police, Fire, and Ambulance Departments, Assistant City Administrator SaraJo Vulcan, Ambulance Director Sundve, Mayor Schmidt, Councilperson Loren Skelton, and a member of the fire department, Josh Knutson.
Director Sundve: “We’re just trying to kind of get things up and running. Going through everything that Holly (from EMSRB) went over that needs to be done, that hasn’t been done. We’re getting that done in the proper order and what we think is best.”
Other areas of action approved or taken by the council regarding the ambulance were: A request for funds for Certified Emergency Vehicle Operator (CEVO) training along with other required courses were approved; Just under $9,000 was approved for service to the ambulance LUCAS life-saving machine; Plans were announced for EMT’s to train with the Ellendale Ambulance for future calls when both departments respond to mutual requests for assistance; Director Sundve also said she plans to bring ideas forward to the next council meeting regarding new uniforms, the reason being for “a fresh start.”
Police Report
Police Chief Tony Martens was present to deliver the police report. The department responded to 99 calls in February, bringing the year’s total to 214, down from 237 reported through this time last year. All squad repairs and COVID conference calls occurred as scheduled.
Josh Knutson was officially welcomed to the police department after passing his background check. The internal search continues to fill the open full-time officer position.
The council approved up to $1,900 for defensive tactics instructor and firearms instructor training courses for two different officers. Chief Martens stressed that these are “100 percent” reimbursable by the state.
Chief Martens reported that a public hearing is required regarding the previously discussed rental ordinance proposal. Night Out in August appears to be on schedule. The emergency siren subject was discussed. Grant options will be pursued this fall in preparation for a possible siren purchase, for the city, prior to March 2022. County assistance and possible contributions from the St. Olaf Lake Association were also suggested as possible ways to foot the bill for the proposed purchase of a siren at St. Olaf Lake.
Chief Martens: “That’s a huge deal to the City of New Richland. That’s a lot of businesses. We do a lot of swimming lessons out there. A lot of our residents use that on a very regular basis. I feel that it benefits us the same as much as it does the lake residents. I think that they have to be an active participant in the process. And that includes financial.”
The report was accepted following discussion regarding New Richland patrol cars driving outside city limits. Chief Martens reported three reasons for this:
1. The police department is part of the Towards Zero Death traffic grant enforcement. This project is sometimes targeted for Highway 13 and Chief Martens stressed that “Nobody is not patrolling New Richland to go participate in that program,” and that the Federal Government covers any and all costs associated with the program.
2. Other agencies have requested support including accident response or to provide backup support.
3. Highway 13 and the lake are part of the normal patrol area.
Chief Martens: “Highway 13 is a very important patrol area as we do have people who walk across to get to Dollar General. It would be awful for someone to be buzzing down the highway too fast and strike one of our local folks.”
Chief Martens also stressed, “If anyone ever has any questions about anything, they can definitely ask me. I’d be happy to say why, as long as it’s not something we can’t talk about.”
A garbage and debris problem was reported behind Wallace Laundromat. Letters have been sent to the property owners and renters. The city has the option to pursue further action and the topic was discussed multiple times. The only official action taken was the request to send further letters and citations.
Consent agenda items, were approved with the exception of the Jan. and Dec. financials. Those reports were discussed at the end of the meeting and tabled for further discussion.
Care Center Report
Chuck Ness presented the Care Center Report. Ness repeated the need to improve the census, which means that the care center is looking to get more residents in to fill open rooms. Ness said the care center plans to purchase a motorized assisted three-seated bike for residents to ride around town. The cost to purchase the bike is $12,000 and half of the cost would be covered by a grant. Ness reported that the money from PPP and other government assistant due to COVID-19 has made their financial reports look better in same areas, and worse in others.
Other Business
City Administrator Sara McKay met with state auditors Tuesday for the city’s annual audit report. Former administrator Wayne Billing agreed to help locate any missing paperwork that may be needed. Administrator McKay met with NRHEG Athletic Director Dan Stork and Superintendent Dale Carlson to discuss the plan for Legion Field and the same plan as last year was agreed to. It was also announced that the fire department agreed to donate the funds necessary for needed repairs to the softball diamond. The council agreed to send more letters to two different residents in regard to trash cleanup. The city flow chart displaying the chain of command was talked about. The council agreed that it needs work. Councilperson Casey requested the planned city survey, asking residents what is important to them, be available online as well as mailed to residents.