  |
City approves hiring new police officer
Monday, January 21, 2013 - Posted 8:08:05 PM
The Minonk City Council approved a motion to hire another full time police officer. City Administrator Gary Brennan said hiring a new officer would result in a net savings of $243 annually because fewer hours would be worked by the 6 part time officers. With a new full time officer the part time officers will work much of the overtime hours. The cost for the new officer would be $44,624.79 which includes benefits. City Administrator Brennan is going to check with the state to see if an advertisement is required to hire a new officer since there is an applicant already being considered for employment.
Ambulance Squad Health and Wellness Open HouseAlderman Nick Fiorini said he was asked by Ambulance Chief Deb Stewart to remind the public of the Ambulance squad's Health and Wellness Open House at the ambulance shed on Thursday, January 24. Coffee and doughnuts will be served between 9:30 am - 11:00 am. Visitors can receive free blood pressure checks and free sugar level tests. Also, life packets will be handed out.
Chief Stewart said the ambulance squad now has 5 full time paramedics on staff after spending many hours at classes and taking instructions.
Water rate reduction issueAt the previous council meeting, City Clerk James Liner had asked Mayor Bill Koos to explain why the reduced water rates billed to the New Millennia group for the water park was never voted on. Liner was responding to a question from Dave Uphoff who had inquired earlier as to when the council was going to approve the water rate reduction. Mayor Koos had told Uphoff that the rates had been approved. Liner said he checked his city council minutes and said no discussion or action was taken regarding the reduction of the water rate for the water park.
Liner said in his notes he made on the presentation made on March 19 by the Millennia Group that no mention was made of a water rate reduction. Liner stated the answers given Mr. Uphoff were erroneous and he would like answers as to what was the agreement, who negotiated this agreement and by whose authority can a water rate be reduced without Council approval?
Mayor Koos responded by saying "The City Council 99% of the time tries to get it right and that the public and the council have the right to know. As Mayor the public right to know was not compromised." The Mayor was referring to council reports in MinonkTalk which stated that reduced rates had been agreed to with the Millennia Group for the splash park. The articles referred to can be linked to here. and to here. While these articles referred to an agreement, there is no mention that the agreement was discussed or approved in an open session by the city council.
|
|
|