New Richland City Council
By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
PeopleService, Maintenance Dept. and care center reports were presented during the New Richland City Council’s second meeting of the month on Monday, March 25, following the approval of the agenda and consent agenda items. Councilperson Jason Casey was absent.
Brad Field presented the PeopleService report, noting that treatment and lab results were normal in February. Residents are reminded that discharging sump pumps into the sanitary sewers is illegal, and doing so causes major issues with the sanitary sewers by placing stress and wear and tear on the collection system piping as well as pumps and treatment units at the wastewater treatment facility. For residents using sump pumps, all efforts should be made to direct water from the pumps out to their curbs as soon as possible.
Field stated that smoke testing will likely be done again on the sewer system to determine sources of surface water inflow and infiltration. The testing was performed last year and is a free service that will hopefully help to alleviate water issues residents in town continue to have. The report was approved.
Ryan Nissen presented the maintenance report, which stated that 20 delinquent water bills/disconnect notices were delivered in February resulting in one shutoff. A purchase request for a load of rock for the alleyways in town was approved at a cost of $471.25. Nissen noted that street sweeping will be done after the remaining snow on the curbs melts, and an announcement will be made on Facebook prior to street sweeping so residents can make sure their vehicles are not blocking the roads.
A few residents were assisted with water issues resulting from the ditch west of town being backed up. Sand bags and a pump were delivered to the residents. The report was approved.
Larry Passel presented the care center report, noting an issue with balance sheets that will be addressed. The center did bounce back financially in January and February, showing a profit of $20,000 last month. An interim director of nursing is now in place at the center after concerns with the previous director led to her departure. The interim director is a significant cost for the care center, however, and the open position has been posted as the search for a new permanent director of nursing continues.
“I think we can absorb the cost [of the interim director],” said Passel, “and remain profitable. We’re in a better spot than we were two months ago.”
Sarah Sundve, Care Center liaison, requested that such changes in personnel be brought to her attention prior to council meetings, to which Passel agreed.
The center will need a new medical director in the near future, as the current one will be retiring in June, and is seeking an individual to fill that position as well. Roof repairs are to take place throughout the next two years, and the same company that did repair work last year will be used. It was noted that there are currently four open CNA positions at the center, and additional nurses have been hired to reduce strain on the center’s current nurses. The report was approved.
The garbage bill committee now consists of two council members, Jessie Shaffer and Casey, and two New Richland residents, Connie Johnson and Eleanor Schlaak.
A motion was made and passed to request no changes to the FEMA community status book, which is being redone this year. A recent emergency management meeting was held with city and county officials, and it was noted that everyone is on the same page for emergency planning. The meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m.