Council approves Sundve as ambulance department director
By ELI LUTGENS
Editor
The New Richland City Council approved Sarah Sundve, after very little discussion, as part-time Ambulance Director and Josh Knutson as a new full-time police officer at its regular meeting March 22.
Mayor Gail Schmidt posed the question, “Who do you want as this part time [ambulance] director?”
“I would have to say Sarah,” answered Councilperson Jody Wynnemer. “I think it would have to be. I kind of hoped it was obvious. Wasn’t it?”
Ambulance Department
New expectations and policies, including a new job description for the Ambulance Department Director position were approved. The director is expected to work 15 hours per week at a salaried pay of $1,000 per month. Despite the recommendation by Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board to make the Ambulance Director a full-time position, council declined to do so on the basis of cost.
Mayor Schmidt said a full-time ambulance director could cost the city $50,000 a year. The city has $13,000 budgeted for the position. “Right now, [the plan is] to finish out the year and then review it again.”
A lengthy discussion took place regarding the hours an ambulance director should be required to work. Director Sundve said that a contract is in the works with North Ambulance in Waseca to help cover New Richland ambulance services until “we get our staff established.” It appears the availability of the new director played a role in the decision to keep the position part-time.
“We have to keep in mind she has a full time job,” said Mayor Schmidt. “I don’t want to see her burn out, or hit a wall.”
Director Sundve replied, “That’s another thing in the contract [with North Ambulance]...I don’t want to quote too much. But I can show you that [contract]. It will actually give me time to have a day off. Where they will cover the whole day.”
Councilperson Loren Skelton commented that the executive committee has not addressed all of the suggestions made by EMSRB and are continuing to work towards addressing those concerns.
Director Sundve said she finished applying for grants and reimbursements and is working on projects within the department. “We’re doing little things here and there. It’s just a lot. A lot I’ve still got to tackle.”
Council approved an online training course for Director Sundve to attend at the cost of $165. The newly adopted ambulance department policies are effective immediately, with pay incentives effective April 1, 2021.
Peoples Service Report
Knutson delivered the People Service report following the announcement he will be stepping down at the end of the month to become a full-time officer for the City of New Richland.
Council approved up to $7,400, prior to insurance deductions, to repair a broken gate and damaged door at the New Richland Water Treatment Facility.
Streets and Water Report
Council approved a request by Eric Hendrickson that the old flagpole from the local Legion Post be moved to St. Olaf Lake at the expense of the Anderson family with an inscription to honor Bernie Anderson.
Also approved by council: $1,400 for necessary repairs to a city truck used for snow removal; up to three loads of gravel for city alleyways at the cost of $546.75 per load. Finally, council agreed that the asbestos floor tile in the community needs to be removed and replaced following proper estimates.
New Richland Care Center
Dale Siegfried was present to report the “reader's digest” version of the annual ambulance audit performed by Clifton Larson Allen. Siegfried said that, although the Care Center has a large amount of cash on hand, the bottom line still isn’t looking good. If occupancy rates don’t rebound, then the Care Center will have to take a look at staffing levels to determine if they can maintain their current employment numbers.
Chuck Ness presented the Care Center report and again reiterated the Care Center census is lower than it has ever been. Despite the low numbers, Ness and Siegfried both agreed that New Richland Care Center has handled Covid well and are doing better than a lot of other nursing homes.
Siegfried: “We actually had more revenues than the previous year, which is kind of against the grain. Almost every organization I’m working with has got less revenues in 2020 versus 2019. Occupancy is an issue in all these nursing homes. Does anybody want to put their family in there when you can’t come visit them? Their occupancy is down from about 86 to 82 percent. That is not a bad drop. I’ve seen a lot worse than that.”
The Care Center is doing better than average, according to Ness, who said that 65 percent of the staff and 75 percent of the residents have been vaccinated, compared with the state average of 51 percent and 76 percent respectively. Ness reported they’re looking into further financial assistance, including possible retention money up to $750,000 to maintain current staff levels.
Other business
An agreement with the Red Leaf Cafe for rental of the St. Olaf Lake building was approved, along with an agreement with NRHEG School for permission to use the concession stand at Legion Field. Neither the school nor the Red Leaf will be charged for the use of city properties. Council determined the Red Leaf shouldn’t be charged because they pay almost $600 for their permit to serve food and they also provide trash cleanup and bathroom maintenance, that without city personnel, was left for local residents to pick up. It was then determined that if the Red Leaf didn’t need to pay for their space, the school shouldn’t either.
The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.