Posted: 3/20/07
City settles claim with officer
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
The City of Caledonia has agreed to pay officer James Logan $3,437 in back wages for duties he performed while working as a canine officer.
The decision to settle the claim was announced at the councilís March 12 meeting.
Logan made the claim that he was due additional wages under the Minnesota and Federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
The settlement was reached in order to avoid litigation, and the city had not admitted any wrongdoing. In signing the agreement, Logan has forfeited any rights to further compensation from the same claim.
Logan was the cityís canine officer from 2001 to 2006. As such, he was in charge of "Nitro," a dog trained in drug detection.
The amount is subject to taxes and other deductions.
Snow removal policy discussed
Administrative coordinator Mike Gerardy informed the council that in the past, the street department and police department has had an agreement that the officers can use the street departmentís 4-wheel drive truck to patrol when they canít get around in their vehicles.
The situation hasnít arisen since Randy Shefelbine has been police chief, Gerardy noted, so it wasnít addressed. They have discussed it now and in the future the officers will know that the truck is available for them.
Council member Randi Vick commented, "If they canít drive around, they can walk around."
In regard to street plowing, Gerardy explained to the council that the plows are not called to plow the streets while snow is still falling heavily.
"If we leave the roads unplowed, at least people know enough to stay home," commented Gerardy. He added that there were no cars stuck in the streets that the drivers had to plow around.
The street department will get the ambulance out if necessary, noted Gerardy.
The council agreed that the verbal agreement with the police department would be enough and no written policy is needed.
Fire department wages approved
The city council also approved several increases to fire department wages as recommended by the rural fire district at its annual meeting on February 13.
The city has agreed to raise the salary of the first and second chiefs $400 per year each, to $1,600; increase the equipment custodianís salary from $300 per year to $500; increase the fire chiefís salary from $2,700 per year to $3,000; and increase the rate paid to firemen while at a fire to $12 per hour, up from $10. That change is expected to cost about $2,000 per year.
Fire chief Chuck Gavin told the council that to the men in the department, "Itís not a hobby, itís a job."
The department has a good turn out for drills and training, and between 12 and 15 fire fighters answer the call when there is a fire.
In other business, the council discussed with Gerardy the division of duties in the city clerkís office while clerk Robert Nelson is on a medical leave.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com