By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor

The New Richland City Council approved a tax levy of $567,610, a 5.39% increase from last year, during its final meeting of the year, Dec. 13, 2021. 

2022-23 Budget

With several members of the community present to express their concerns, the New Richland City council approved its final budget proposal for 2022-23 following a truth in taxation public hearing. A property tax increase of 5.39 percent, almost half of what was proposed in the preliminary levy, was approved with a vote of 3-1 with the lone “ney” vote coming from Jason Casey who said, after the meeting, “I think the increase should have been zero. They should have cut the entire 10 percent budget increase from the preliminary proposal.” 

“This council worked very hard at getting the proposed budget of 10.49 percent down,” Mayor Gail Schmidt said during the public meeting. “We had another work session to do so and we were able to make some more cuts, hesitantly.”

The approved tax levy will see residents pay an increase of $9 for residential property valued at $100,000; $22 more for $200,000, and $113 for commercial property valued at $500,000. 

The reasons given by Mayor Schmidt earlier this year for the increase are: 

Liability insurance increased by 20 percent due to the turmoil in police departments across the state of Minnesota. 

Workman's compensation increased 12 percent. 

Health insurance increased six percent. 

In total, this budget sees an increase in expenditures of $29,019 from a year ago. A major cut from the preliminary budget was the bill for health insurance from the MN Dept. of Health which is now being covered by the care center.

Ambulance report

Director Sarah Sundve said she is meeting with the MN Emergency Medical Services Regional Board in January to deliver its audit report in person. In mid 2021 the EMSRB presented a scathing audit report at a New Richland City Council meeting regarding HIPPA privacy violations within the department as well as members possibly sabotaging other members in an effort to damage their credibility. Mayor Schmidt said she hopes this report/presentation will help “put all this audit stuff behind us”.

Sundve responded saying, “I hope, I pray it was never like it was before.” 

Along with the meeting, the department will be working with EMSRB to set goals for 2022. Councilperson Loren Skelton asked Sundve to share some of these goals:

New child restraints - The child seat that goes with the cot is from 1995.

Power oxygen tank lift - Councilperson Chad Neitzel said it takes two members bear hugging a tank to lift one.

Power stair chair - the current stair chair doesn’t fit into most New Richland homes’ stairwells.

Scoop stretcher - For anyone who falls onto the ground, with this stretcher they won’t have to log roll, for example, a care center resident with a broken hip, onto a stretcher. 

Uniforms and patches

Mayor Schmidt said it was an impressive list of good goals. Neitzel advised Sundve to prioritize. 

Sundve said these improvements are important for the people in the community.

The ambulance department responded to 23 runs in December, bringing the year’s total to 177, roughly 40 runs less than last year. Sundve wagered that the decreased number of runs was a result of Covid. 

Sundve asked the council to consider paying for EMT classes and not asking ambulance department members to pay the city back for the cost of their training as long as the person works for the department for at least one year. 

The council approved to reimburse an EMT first responders training cost she paid for out of pocket during the summer of 2021. 

CPR classes for crew crew members were approved for $150. 

The department's ambulance rig’s door is being serviced under warranty beginning January 6, 2022 and will be returned after five business days. In the meantime a replacement rig will be provided and checked/compatible upon arrival to ensure it is ready to go. The council clarified that the city is not and does not have to pay for any of the repairs, however, while it is being repaired, it will go in for its annual service. 

The council accepted the Ambulance Department report.

Fire Department

Councilperson Neitzel presented city administrator Michelle Johnson with a check for $90,000 from the Fire Dept. Relief Association. 

Neitzel estimated that the department responded to roughly 50 calls this year, many of which were simply rendering assistance. When asked about the fire at the Service’s house, he said the department is unable to comment. 

The council approved the Fire Department report

Police

Chief Anthony Martens was gone for a funeral so his report was referenced. The department responded to 140 calls for service in November, bringing the year’s total to 1,115. So far the city has issued four state citations for ordinance violations and two are currently in the court system.

Training, which is eligible for reimbursement, in Mankato for three officers was approved for $375. 

Chief Martens typically reminds members of the community, at this time, that it is cold outside. Be prepared, have an emergency kit in your car and if you are traveling somewhere, please let someone know when and where you are going. 

The council approved the Police Dept. report.

Misc./Approved Measures

Resolution 21-27 accepting Covid fiscal recovery funds from money returned from Federal Cares Act dollars awarded to cities with populations less than 50,000 in the amount of $2,200 was approved.

A pay equity scale increase of 2.25% effective Jan. 1, 2022 for the first pay period of 2022 was approved. 

The city is again in need of a new cleaning lady. Anyone interested may contact city hall. 

The first council meeting of 2022 is scheduled for Jan. 10. 

The meeting adjourned at 8 p.m.