By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
Little action was seen at the New Richland City Council’s first meeting of 2017 on Monday, Jan. 9. Council member Amy Ihrke was absent, and the council approved the following appointments for the year: Newspaper, NRHEG Star Eagle; Bank Depository, State Bank of NR; Deputy Mayor, Amy Ihrke; Street/Parks, Chad Neitzel; Water/Sewer, Sandy Neumann; Police, Christine Gislason; Care Center, Sandy Neumann; Fire Chief, Josh Moen; Fire Relief Board, Christine Gislason and Wayne Billing; Attorney, PHB (P. Berg); Engineer, Jones/Haugh/Smith; Co. Environmental Waste, Sarah Sundve; Co. Economic Board, Wayne Billing; Recycling, Sarah Sundve; Fire Dept., Christine Gislason; Ambulance Department, Amy Ihrke; Planning Commission, Chad Neitzel; EDA, Sarah Sundve and Chad Neitzel; WAF, Gail Schmidt.
Also approved was Resolution 17-01, setting water and sewer rates for New Richland. Per recommendation by City Clerk Wayne Billing, no change was made in the rates from 2016.
As for the position of permanent police chief, the council is back to square one—the individual recommended for the job has withdrawn, and the next applicant has denied the offer due to the pay rate. Ideas for how to move forward were discussed, including schedule changes, reducing the department and other cost-cutting measures. Billing mentioned that New Richland’s chief of police salary being on the low end of the pay scale affects recruiting; however, the city doesn’t have the funds available to increase the amount being offered.
“We were already talking about getting rid of the lifeguards at St. Olaf to save money,” said council member Chad Neitzel. “We just can’t afford it.”
The council hesitantly agreed to table the item for two weeks while a solution is sought. Currently the Waseca County Sheriff’s Office is serving as interim chief for the New Richland Police Dept.
The ambulance report was approved, and the council heard from a MN Rural Water Association employee about New Richland joining its Well Head Protection Plan. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.