New Richland City Council
By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
During its first meeting of the month on Monday, July 8, the New Richland City Council decided by majority vote amongst its members to appoint Jenna Pederson to fill the vacant council seat left by Jessie Shaffer, whose resignation became effective after the meeting.
Three letters were received by individuals interested in the position, with Pederson receiving three votes and Jody Wynnemer, a former council member, receiving one vote. Pederson will be informed of her appointment and sworn in at the next council meeting on July 22.
Applications for the open library cleaning position have been received, and a committee consisting of council member Sarah Sundve and assistant city clerk Sara Jo Vulcan will interview the applicants and make a recommendation to the council.
A request to close a portion of the street in front of the fire hall on Saturday beginning at noon for an FFA reunion during Farm and City Days celebrations was approved, provided access to the ambulance and fire trucks is not obstructed.
A written police report was again submitted, stating the NRPD responded to 124 calls for service in June. A reimbursement request for training costs was approved, along with a request for police chief Tony Martens to attend the Minnesota Association of Emergency Managers conference at a cost of $725. The report was approved.
Monica Schutrop presented the ambulance report, which stated there were 15 ambulance runs in June and there have been at least six so far this month, bringing the total for the year to 122. The two newest members have scheduled their national tests, the final step before officially joining the ambulance crew. Equipment and supplies at a cost of $140.17 were approved, along with the ambulance report.
The 2018 audit report was presented by a representative from Abdo, Eick & Meyers, containing the same three findings and recommendations present in the last few years’ audit reports: limited segregation of duties in the areas of internal control procedures over payroll, disbursements, cash receipts and utility billing increases the risk of fraud; internal controls of preparation of financial statements; material audit adjustments.
“[These findings] are very common in a city your size,” said the representative. The audit report was accepted.
Ordinance 19-02, granting a franchise to Midcontinent Communications to maintain a cable communications system in New Richland, was approved, and outgoing council member Shaffer was thanked for her service to the city. The meeting adjourned at 7:22.