Everyone loves a parade
The Motley City Council held their regular meeting July 11, at which time they:
o HEARD an update on the hiring process for the new city clerk from Gary Weiers, with David Drown & Associates. Weiers advocated revising the timeline, providing additional time to update the job description prior to its being advertized. The current job description is dated 1999. Interim clerk Scott Saehr said he was okay with having the process delayed a month.
o APPROVED contract with Long Prairie Sanitation (LPS) for five years. The contract includes collection of trash using three different size carts and single sort recycling using a 64 gallon cart. The contract has a fixed rate for two years. In addition, LPS will not charge for trash and recycling collection at the city facilities, during June Fest; and will offer two $500 scholarships to high school graduates each year the contract is in force.
o HEARD from Mary Noska and Lisa Kajer, volunteer representatives with Barn Quilts of Central Minnesota. The vision of the group is to organize a barn quilt trail with at least 25 quilts by August of 2017 in Central Minnesota, emphasizing Todd, Wadena, Morrison and Cass counties. The vision is to create an open-air visual art exhibit to welcome friends, family and visitors to our area. They asked for the city’s support in encouraging local businesses to take part in this, adding that a barn quilt trail could attract visitors, in turn bringing business and revenue to the area. More information can be found online at http://barnquiltsmn.org.
o APPROVED gambling permit from St. Michael’s Catholic Church to play bingo.
o APPROVED the request of Motley Police Chief Ron Smith that the police department have WEX fleet cards for purchasing gas for MPD vehicles. Officers must keep track of receipts and if any purchase has been made that is not related to the MPD, the amount of purchase will be held from the officer’s final pay check, or must be reimbursed to the city.
o TABLED Chief Smith’s request to relocate the police department to the former city maintenance shop. Smith estimated it would cost approximately $1,600 to convert the space from its former use. Council member Amy Hutchison said she had mixed feelings about this plan and would prefer to have the police presence at city hall. She wondered if Smith could maintain an office at city hall while utilizing the new space to conduct interviews and store evidence. Chief Smith said it sounded like a good compromise. Smith will bring additional information to the council’s August meeting.
o HEARD request from interim city clerk Scott Saehr that the city consider utilizing the services of “Shred-N-Go” for their day-to-day shredding needs (excluding records, documents, etc.). Saehr also wondered if the city should consider a cleaning service for city hall. In the past, city clerk/treasurer Terri Smith took care of this, but Saehr wondered if the clerk’s time would be better used elsewhere. Council member Steve Johnson reminded Saehr that at the last special meeting the council had agreed to take turns cleaning until a permanent city clerk is hired.
o HEARD from council member Steve Johnson who expressed support for Police Chief Ron Smith and Morrison County Deputy Al Yoder (who is also a Motley City Council member) in light of the recent police shootings in Dallas, Texas.
