Flooding open house set for Dec. 5

Local resident Larry Muff, was present during the New Richland City Council’s Nov. 12 meeting to address concerns regarding the hydrologic study conducted by Houston Engineering. He stated his main concern is that the study is based on a “100-year flooding event,” which was described as seven inches of rainfall in a 24-hour period - an amount far exceeded during the floods of 2010 and 2016. The same concern was raised by council members during the previous meeting. 

 

An open house to discuss and educate the public on the recent Hydrology study will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 . Houston Engineering staff members will be available that evening to answer questions.

 

The city fire department reported having responded to one medical call in the month of October. 

 

Chief of Police Tanyce Bruegger let council members know the police department responded to 99 calls for service in October. The report was approved along with a Joint Powers Agreement.

 

In unfinished business, council pay policy was discussed, along with the possibility of reducing the number of council meetings per month from two to one. The council agreed to wait until the newly elected council members are sworn in before deciding on the latter issue and approved the council pay policy, which is a change from per diem pay to salary, as presented.

 

In new business, Resolution 24-24 certifying the 2024 election results was approved along with the 2025 People Service contract increase.

 

A discussion was had on the 2025 budget, which will be approved during the council’s last meeting of the year in December. A public hearing was also opened for five ordinances up for approval during the meeting, and following no public comments, the following ordinances were approved: 24-03: Creating a Storm Sewer Utility; 24-04: Regulating the Use of Cannabis in the City of New Richland; 24-05: Amending the Downtown Commercial District in relation to Lower-Potency Hemp Sales as an Accessory to Retail Sales; 24-06: Amending the C3 Highway Commercial District in relation to Lower-Potency Hemp Sales as Accessory to Retail Sales; 24-07: Amending the Industrial Zone to allow for the manufacture and retail sale of cannabinoid and hemp-derived products as conditional use. Resolution 24-23, establishing handicap parking on the southeast side of the 200 block of First St. NW in front of Trinity Lutheran Church, was also approved. The meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m.