New Richland City Council
By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
The New Richland City Council held its first meeting of April on Monday the 14th at 6:30 p.m. John Hullopeter and Amy Ihrke were absent.
Postponed from the last meeting, Resolution 14-07, for a hearing on the proposed assessment of County Road 12, will be determined at the next meeting. Resolution 14-08, authorizing the transfer of Fund 311 to Fund 320 and the closure of Fund 311, was approved.
Regarding an issue from a month ago, two representatives were present to explain and answer questions regarding the new Care Center phone system’s pricing change. It was explained the old system had several problems, and the building was not examined completely, causing unforeseen problems uncovered in the walls a more than $10,000 jump in price. There was some debate, and both Tony Martens and Sandy Neumann stressed the company should have been up front with the cost, especially when unforeseen issues could cause the price to almost double.The NR Police Department responded to 88 calls and had 43 additional contacts/activities in March. One felony was reported – a burglary and two thefts – and the investigation and report for the call were completed and forwarded to the county attorney’s office where it will be reviewed for charges. The part-time patrolman, Alan Anderson, whose hiring was approved during last month’s meeting, has been training and is expected to start independently soon.
Next was the NR Ambulance Department report. In March, 14 runs were made. Community involvement ideas were discussed, and the department plans on providing coffee and bars in New Richland and Waldorf for those interested in learning about the ambulance, as well as visiting elementary schools. Necessary repairs for the building were discussed, including lights in the garage flickering on and off at random, a leaky roof, and the door on the ambulance side of the building tripping, which has occurred twice already. It was agreed these items are a priority, and measures will be taken. The ambulance report was approved.
The NR Fire Department report included purchase requests: $1,125 for license renewal and training, which was approved, and $884.92 for miscellaneous items, also approved. The report was approved.
Six guests were in attendance to request land and water for a possible farm cooperative startup in New Richland. The Agua Gorda Cooperative became a legal entity in 2012, with the help of the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), and has grown into a successful business that is looking to expand. Members have received education from the University of Minnesota, and are supported by the USDA. The request is for one acre of land on which to grow produce that will primarily be sold locally; the idea is to “start small and expand long-term.”
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Martens, and it was agreed there is not enough local produce available in the community.
Possible locations were discussed, and the council was in favor of the idea. It was decided the council will explore options and construct a plan, and the topic will be discussed at the next meeting April 28.
New business included a request for a new toilet for the Lions Club women’s bathroom, as the current one was installed in 1968 and is not up to code. A motion to get quotes from Bohlen, Connor’s and The Plumber Guy was made and approved. Also discussed were two bills for the cost of clearing frozen pipes; the first to Wayne Wenzel, who received a $1,200 bill due to a 300-foot service line extending 200 feet from the curb – an area that is the city’s responsibility. The second was to Jay Johnson for $220, whose service line situation was the same as Wenzel’s. A motion was made the city will pay 25% of each bill, and it was approved. A request for the purchase of rock for alleys, etc., was approved at a cost of $1,688.
Before adjourning, the council decided to give the O.K. to the Care Center to continue the new phone system project. The meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m.