Posted: 4/3/07
City approves part-time officer
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
The city council has agreed to have police officer Jessica Lewis work on a part-time basis for the city if she is available.
Police Chief Randy Shefelbine told the council that he was informed by city clerk administrator Robert Nelson that Lewis would be removed from the payroll after a committee consisting of council members Paul Fisch and Mike Morey reviewed the police department budget and determined that there was not any money there for a regular, part-time officer. The cost to have Lewis work part time would be about $12,000. In 2006, the police department exceeded its budget by $84,000.
Council member Randi Vick said she was of the understanding that the committee would report back to the council. Member Fisch responded that "We could not find the money for Jessica."
The department currently has five officers including the chief, and a roster of officers who can fill in shifts, but no regular, part-time officers.
Mayor Mike Morey asked if the schedule could be worked to eliminate the gaps in police coverage during certain hours.
"You can only stretch so far," Shefelbine replied.
Vick made the motion to hire Lewis as a part-time officer. The motion passed 3-2 with Vick, Robert Standish and Gary Klug in favor and Morey and Fisch against.
In other news from the police department, Shefelbine discussed a recent check of the departmentís computers. He said he was not informed that the computers would be checked, and said he was concerned over confidential material that may be on the computer, and also images of child pornography that were evidence.
Mayor Morey said that random checks of city employee computers are part of the computer use policy and that all employeesí computers will eventually be checked. He said that the technician does not go into files, but checks for items such as games. He noted that nothing unusual was found on the police department computers.
Ambulance concerns
The council discussed needs of the ambulance service with new ambulance director Mike Tornstrom.
The council approved several items that were identified as priorities, including the purchase of a Stryker Stair Chair at $2,700. The device is used when a patient must be transported up or down a flight of stairs, and helps protect the emergency technicians from injury in those situations.
Also approved was the purchase of EMS personnel management software for about $300; and the purchase and installation of an eight-foot countertop with cabinets below.
The council directed Tornstrom to get a local quote for a new computer.
The council also agreed that in the future, EMTs who attend classes or conferences will pay for the training themselves and then submit a certificate of completion in order to get reimbursement. Tornstrom said that five EMTs signed up for a recent conference which was paid for by the city and two did not show up.
Uniform allowances and establishing "crew leader" positions were also discussed.
In other business, the council:
ï approved a $500 expenditure to sponsor speaker David Parnell, a former meth addict who spoke in Caledonia Friday;
ï discussed whether to charge the fair board for the ambulance attendants who stand by during some of the grandstand events;
ï reviewed end of the year reports with city accountant Stephanie Mann;
ï agreed to rent the athletic field to the school district for $250 each for the softball and baseball fields;
ï tabled a decision on employee self-evaluations;
ï agreed to raise the pension for the fire department to $1,050 for each year of active service, up from $950.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com