Posted: 4/19/05
City will hire two new officers
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
Two new officers will join the Caledonia Police Department, bringing the number of full-time officers to five.
The City Council approved hiring both officers after two meetings last week. The second officer wasnít approved until a special meeting Thursday night. The regular meeting of the council was Monday evening.
The police department currently has two full-time patrol officers, James Logan and James Stemper, and a chief, Randy Shefelbine. Stemper is currently on administrative leave. Gary Bubbers and Bruce Muenkel are regular, part-time officers, and the city also uses other part-time officers to fill in. However, if an officer is licensed as a part-time officer, he or she is supposed to work with a licensed full-time officer.
At its meeting on Monday, Mayor Mike Morey and Councilman Paul Fisch, who make up the law enforcement committee, recommended that two officers be hired.
The department has been one officer short for more than a year, and has been working without Stemper, although he is still on the payroll pending the outcome of a case against him in Buffalo County, Wisconsin.
On Monday, Councilman Gary Klug said he thinks four officers are enough. He suggested that having two part-time officers rather than one full-time would save the city the cost of benefits. He said he would like to revisit the issue once Stemperís case is resolved.
ěI understand that he feels overwhelmed, but two more people is doubling the staff,î said Klug.
Fisch and Morey said that they talked to Chief Shefelbine at length and agree with his recommendation that the council needs to hire two officers at this time. Shefelbine was out of town at a meeting and could not attend the council meeting on Monday. The process of hiring an officer is lengthy due to the background checks that are necessary, they noted.
A motion was made to hire Alan Johnson of Spring Grove as a full-time police officer for the city. He is currently working in Spring Grove. Because he has experience as a full-time officer, he will start at step II of the pay scale, $17.19 per hour.
The question of another officer was brought before the council again at a special meeting Thursday night. Chief Shefelbine attended the meeting to discuss hiring another officer.
Following the discussion, the council agreed 4-1 to hire Charles Rolbecki of Minnesota City. Klug opposed the hiring of the additional officer.
Rolbecki was hired at step I, which is $15.63 per hour.
Garbage contract discussed
At its meeting April 11, the council heard a request from Mathias Harter of Harterís Quick Clean-Up, who asked that the city consider letting its garbage contract out on bids. The city has contracted with Richardís Sanitation for refuse hauling for 35 years. The city can negotiate a refuse contract rather than bidding it out.
Richard Skauge of Richardís Sanitation was also present and said he would like to renew his contract. He told the council that he needs a guaranteed income in order to build a bigger building and house all the recyclables inside. He said he plans on a 3-1/2 percent raise in rates. He told the council that he is at a disadvantage in bidding.
ěYou know they (Harters) are going to be cheaper because they know my prices,î said Skauge.
A committee meeting on the matter was scheduled for Monday evening, April 18.
Woodland will operate
concession stand
Woodland Industries of Caledonia will operate the concession stand near the ball parks this summer.
Helen Olson, a program coordinator/job developer at Woodland, said that the stand will be staffed with clients of Woodland, which employs adults with developmental and physical disabilities. A job coach will be present at all times, she added.
The party that runs the concession stand provides the inventory and keeps the profits. They also pay electricity and keep the proceeds from the pop machines next to the stand.
In other news, the city council:
ď discussed but did not determine what setback requirements should be on cul de sacs in new developments;
ď agreed to leave parking on both sides of the street along Kingston Street;
ď voted 3-2 to deny a request from Kevin Haas to rezone a parcel of property along County Highway 12 from agricultural to residential;
ď approved an ordinance regulating use of recreational vehicles on city streets.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com