Skelton set to serve as mayor until end of term

The New Richland City Council voted to appoint Councilperson Loren Skelton to fill the remainder of Mayor Chad Neitzel’s term, which expires at the end of this year, in anticipation of his planned departure from the position next month. The council also agreed to accept letters of interest for the soon-to-be open council seat with the intention of reviewing them at the first meeting in April.

 

One individual was present to address the council regarding a water bill received at a house owned by his father on 1st St. SE. A request for any kind of forgiveness on a roughly $6,400 bill caused by a ruptured pipe releasing 290,000 gallons of water before the problem was discovered was met with hesitation from some council members. 

 

“We have to treat the water that goes to and leaves the house,” said Mayor Neitzel.

 

Councilperson Janda Ferguson mentioned a similar situation that occurred last year in which the council denied forgiveness of an unusually high water bill. 

 

“We don’t really have any guidelines set down that would be fair for all residents in these situations,” Ferguson said. “In the future we can look at setting up some kind of procedure, maybe, but we can’t just favor each case - we have to stick to the same thing.”

 

After further discussion, City Administrator Tony Martens agreed to put in a request to shut the water off to the property and place the topic on the agenda for the next meeting for further discussion. No action was taken on the matter.

 

The ambulance report was presented by Sarah Sundve, stating that the New Richland ambulance has had 16 runs so far this year. Pay rates for ambulance members were discussed along with an ongoing difficulty to recruit members and fill the schedule. 

 

The ambulance report was approved, along with the fire department report, which was submitted in writing.

 

Chief of Police Tanyce Bruegger presented the police report, which stated that the NRPD responded to 292 calls for service in February. A public hearing regarding body cameras, which the department plans to purchase and utilize in the near future, was scheduled for April 8 at 6:35 p.m. 

 

“With things that have gone on locally, statewide, and nationally with police departments, it’s time that this happens within our department,” Martens said. The police report was approved.

 

In unfinished business, it was noted that six applications had been received for the assistant city clerk position and results of a survey regarding the possibility of a municipal THC dispensary showed that 99.99% of those who participated were opposed to the idea.

 

In new business, the council approved a contract with former Assistant City Clerk Sara Jo Vulcan at a rate of $25/hour up to 20 hours per week for administrative assistance outside of normal business hours while a replacement is found, and to help with training once the position is filled. Also approved were a purchase request for the reshaping and regrading of swale west of N Elm Ave. and cleaning outlet of retention ponds at a cost of $670, a contract with Culligan regarding water softeners, pump repair at the wastewater treatment plant at a cost of $1,814 to be paid with AARP funds, water plant repairs including a flow meter and chemical injection port at a cost of up to $7,000, and a public hearing to be held March 25 at 6:35 p.m. regarding a franchise agreement extension with Xcel Energy.

 

In the administrator’s report, it was noted that city hall will be closed on March 29 for generator work to be completed. The report was approved, and the meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m.