By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
The New Richland City Council rescinded a five year contract made with Coordinated Business Solutions at the previous council meeting in favor of a new contract agreement with Metro Sales of Owatonna, saving taxpayers roughly $15,000 during its regular meeting July 26, 2021.
Metro Sales Contract
The new contract the city agreed to will cost roughly $191 per month, compared to the $451 per month they would have been paying with Coordinated Business Solutions. The new contract will cover all the needs that were expected to be covered by the Coordinated contract, the only exception being that Coordinated will continue to provide support for the city’s Global Search Now archiving software. Metro Sales is an employee owned printer and copier business operating since 1969, which also provides service to the State Bank of New Richland and NRHEG High School.
NR Care Center
New administrator David Dunn presented the care center report. As of July 26, the census was at 41 care center residents with 48 other beds available. The month of July included nine new admissions and seven discharges.
Administrator Dunn told the council that staffing isn’t a major concern compared to other facilities he’s worked at before. The main concern is finding more certified nursing assistants (CNA).
Financials
June wasn’t a good month for the care center, but they are still operating very close to their budget. “We’ll recover,” Administrator Dunn said. “There’s some dollars sitting out there that we can get back.”
Dunn discussed temporary 12-hour shifts for nursing assistants, including a temporary two dollar an hour raise. Doing so will help curb significant overtime bonuses. Consultant fees with Advanced Health Institute (AHI) are also expected to decrease because the care center no longer needs to employ an interim administrator through AHI.
The temporary director and AHI began working with the care center on a comprehensive strategic plan to reorganize the departments to operate optimally.
“There are good processes in place,” Administrator Dunn said. “They just need some tweaking here and there.
“I think the folks that are ready for the change are willing to do what it takes to have that facility run the way it should,” Dunn explained. “The residents’ care comes first. [...] We make the residents happy, makes the staff happy, (and) everything just kind of falls into place. It’s a good building, with good people.”
Activities
Care center residents have had a busy month. Residents were able to go outside for a car show from Memories Car Club at the facility. The Farm and City Days parade also went by the facility. On July 9 and 12, twenty-one residents enjoyed pontoon rides on St. Olaf Lake. A fishing trip to St. Olaf Lake is planned for the second week of August. A resident/family/staff picnic is planned for August 26. The picnic will include music with Administrator Dunn playing the drums, Director of Nursing Kyle singing, and one of Dunn's friends on the guitar.
“The activities are Kathy’s department,” Dunn said. “I’ve never seen an activities department that has so much going on from morning until the evening. The residents are so engaged and active.”
Dunn also reminded the council that the care center is open to visitors now. Not all facilities are open to visitors. Vaccinations to Covid-19 are an important part of this process. Ninety five percent of the residents have had the vaccine and seventy five percent of the staff have had the vaccine.
The council accepted the care center report.
People Service Report
Michelle Johnson from People Service said the NPCA visited the water treatment plant for an inspection and biosolids report. The plant looked good, but NPCA is waiting for some paperwork.
The fence at the plant, which was damaged from a drunk driver several months ago, has still not been repaired. An alarm went off because of a brief power outage. The air conditioner in the plant was fixed, after the compression fittings were found to be bad.
The People Service Report was accepted.
Streets and Water
Maintenance lead man Erik Hendrickson delivered the streets and water report.
Unfortunately, the hire to fill the maintenance position in town has changed his mind. The council approved increasing the hours of the other current part time maintenance person until they can find a person to take the position full-time. The current individual has expressed no desire to work past the Fall season.
Tree removal in the holding pond located in town was approved at the cost of $3,700 by Loken Drainage.
Hendrickson asked council to reimburse the cost of a water treatment booklet purchased out of pocket for $169, which the council approved. Council person Chad Neitzel reminded Hendrickson to make these requests ahead of time, because the city oftentimes can get a discount on these types of purchases.
A total of 19 blue cards for late payments were issued to residents during July. Hendrickson told the council about several projects completed this month, including: the painting of city walkways, street sweeping, water tower cleaning, and a controlled burn at the city compost site.
Mayor Gail Schmidt thanked Erik for doing a good job during Farm and City Days and also expressed her gratitude for the department mowing the steep hill alongside Boot Creek next to the city park.
A lack of yellow paint has delayed painting several curbs in town.
The council accepted the Streets and Water report.
Miscellaneous
Erik Spies was approved as the commissioner of house and redevelopment.
A three-year contract with Andy Flor for three acres of city land at the cost of $375 a year is up. The discussion about what to do with the land was tabled.
An EDA grant in the amount of $3,000 was approved for Keith Leonardo. The Panther PowerHouse, New Richland’s fitness center, was sold to the Leonardo’s and subsequently remodeled. Leonardo said over $10,000 was put into the cost of the windows, which was what the grant request was approved for.
Matt Harrington was appointed to fill the open position on the EDA Board. Earlier in the day, during the regular monthly meeting of the EDA, Councilperson Loren Skelton was selected as president and Councilperson Jody Wynnemer as secretary.
NR Police
Mayor Schmidt asked the council to table the approval of any additional officer to allow for further discussion with Police Chief Anthony Martens. “We owe it to the public to at least ask the questions… I honestly see where we could save some money on what we’re paying for part timers.”
Budget process
For the first time in five years, every department head will be involved in the budget process. City Administrator Michell Johnson requested all supervisors meet with her for preliminary budget meetings in August, per suggestions from the auditors.
“We're gonna get there guys,” Mayor Schmidt said. “We will.”
Wagner's parking lot
A conversation about the city owned municipal parking lot in front of Wagners grocery store was discussed. The city is responsible for the repairs and insurance costs each year on the $30,000 property.”
Do you know the history behind the parking lot?” asked Council person Neitzel. “That’s how they got the grocery store in town.”
If the city would not like to own the property, then it will go back to the owners of the property. After paying $3,500 in repairs this year, the council agreed a conversation with the owners of Wagners should take place.
The meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.