Argus News Editor
The city of Caledonia and the Caledonia Police Department union came to terms last week on the 2008-2009 collective bargaining agreement. Union members will receive a pay increase of 3.75 percent for 2008 (retroactive to Jan. 1, 2008) and a 3.5 percent increase for 2009. The city council reviewed and approved the employment contract at the Sept. 8 meeting.
Councilmembers Randi Vick and Gary Klug, who were part of the negotiating committee, stated they were pleased with the final contract, and felt it was very workable for both the city and the police association.
According to the agreement:
• The average of pay steps 3 and 4 ($19.86 per hour) will be increased by 3.75 percent, with 74 cents per hour added to each 2007 step. For 2009, the average of steps 3 and 4 ($20.60 per hour) will be increased by 3.50 percent with 72 cents per hour added to each 2008 step. These increases apply to the part-time officers’ steps as well as full-time officers’ steps.
• Night shift pay differential shall be paid at the rate of $1.30 per hour and $1.35 per hour during calendar years 2008 and 2009.
• Officers who may be required to use their own automobiles for any authorized or required city business such as attending out of town seminars at the direction of the city, trips for performing city business, and the like, shall be reimbursed at the rate posted by the IRS business rate on the date of travel.
• A part-time police officer may join the Caledonia Police Association when his/her hours of work average more than 14 hours per week, calculated over a period of one year, or when the city council, police chief, and association agree that an officer is expected to be scheduled for work more than 14 hours per week for the next six month period.
• The city agrees to pay an annual uniform allowance to each full-time officer in an amount of up to $650 and to each part-time officer in an amount of up to $275. Uniform allowance is specifically allotted for the maintenance and replacement of uniforms and equipment worn on the officer’s person or used in the course of duty with the standard issue items being of first priority. Reimbursement shall be paid upon presentation of invoice/receipt.
In other council action:
Equipment purchase approved
Newly hired police officer Chad Heuser asked if he could use the $650 annual uniform allowance to purchase additional clothes he felt he needed.
According to City Administrator Bob Nelson, all new hires to the police department receive three long sleeve shirts, three short sleeve shirts, three pair of pants, three ties, a summer hat, a winter hat, one intermediate jacket, one hat badge and one chest badge.
Heuser had recently purchased an equipment belt for his service revolver and other items required for the job. The belt was approximately $200.
“I have a hard time granting the entire year’s uniform allowance right now, when he’s just starting out,” Mayor Mike Morey said.
Klug said he felt the city could compromise by approving the purchase of additional work clothing, but to include the $200 equipment belt in the $650 annual allowance.
A motion made by Klug and seconded by Morey to go along with Klug’s suggestion was unanimously passed.
City will pay glasses bill
By a 4-1 vote, the council approved a request to pay an $84 bill for a pair of special glasses that fit under an air pack mask. Nelson explained that a member of the Caledonia Area Fire Department requested the special glasses when his regular glasses prevented an adequate fit with the air pack mask.
“The glasses have been ordered, made, and the city received the bill,” Nelson noted. “I don’t recall ever dealing with this type of request in the past. I spoke with several former fire chiefs, and they indicated there certainly could be a need for special glasses to get a good seal with the air pack mask, but they never had a request like this.”
Morey said he understood how the request could come up, but asked, “where do we draw the line? Do we purchase knee braces for employees with weak knees? What about the hearing impaired?”
Councilwoman Peggy Perry said she agreed with Morey and echoed his question, “where do we draw the line?”
Nelson suggested he contact the League of Minnesota Cities “to see where this could take us.”
Because the bill had been received after the last council meeting, Nelson felt the city should pay it, check with the League, and if need be, ask the fire department to reimburse the city.
Vick made a motion that was seconded by Morey to do just that. Vick, Morey, Klug, and Councilman Bob Standish voted in favor of the motion. Perry voted against it.
Setback variance approved
The council approved a setback variance for Brenda Beckman, 218 West Caledonia Street. Beckman proposed to construct a 24 by 30 foot cement slab for a future garage, replacing the existing concrete slab. The slab would be located approximately seven feet from the east property line, which would require a three-foot variance.
Letters were sent out to adjoining property owners about the variance request. No one submitted written objections to Beckman’s plans, nor did anyone speak out against the plans at the public hearing on the variance request.
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Comments
(14)
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written by matt hoscheit , September 16, 2008
written by matt hoscheit , September 16, 2008
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written by Matt Klug , September 16, 2008
written by Matt Klug , September 16, 2008
I would hope that the city council could find room in the fire depts budget to pay for a basic safty item such as eye glasses for a fireman to wear strictly while wearing his air pack. It would be different if he or she was a "financial burden" on the city by having a leg injury ect....... This is getting outta hand. All the time that we (the 33 members of CFD) donate to the city to serve the greater good and this is the response...... I hope that people realize the things that the current city council members spend "our money" on, and yet make a big deal out of a 84 dollar pair of air pack glasses. Remember to vote in November.............
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written by Is this for real? , September 17, 2008
written by Is this for real? , September 17, 2008
Are the city officials for real? There are three people in a city that should be supported 100%. The policeman that will take a bullet for you, the EMT that will save your life, and the firefighter that will carry you or your family out of a burning building. And you choose to haggle over an $84 bill for glasses. Maybe Morey and Nelson should order a pair of glasses with a strong prescription and maybe they can see the bigger picture. Good Grief!!
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written by Andre Moen , September 17, 2008
written by Andre Moen , September 17, 2008
As A former resident and former home owner of Caledonia and current resident of Crooked Creek Township and our Township's Representative on the Rural Caledonia Fire Dept. Board I would like to express my sincerest appreciation to Chief Gavin and the whole fire dept. for the outstanding dedication they have shown to protecting the people of this area. We can buy trucks and equipment, but without this fine group of individuals our Fire Department wouldn't be what it is today. Keep up the good work!
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written by Vote , September 17, 2008
written by Vote , September 17, 2008
The emergency services of Caledonia (Police, Fire and EMS are staffed with a great group of people who do their jobs to the best of their abilities with the city council standing in their way at every turn. If the public only knew half of what these men and women know from working for the city they would not only vote out the council members but run them out of town! This November should be a wake up call to the city council or should I say former council. They are bickering over $84 for a piece of safety equipment that will allow a firefighter to do his job which is protecting the lives and property of the citizens of Caledonia. I would like to know why they denied the pump that would have been free (through donations gambling fund etc.). Is there a legitimate reason for them not approving it or are they just saying we are the boss and it wasn’t our idea therefore it was wrong. I never thought I would say this but I agree with a decision Mayor Morey made. He has decided not to run again and I think that is the best decision he has made yet. I think the real reason for it is he does not want to be embarrassed at the polls come November. Maybe the other council members should follow their fearless leader and do the same before they too get embarrassed. Chief Gavin, Chief Shefelbine and Director Tornstrom keep up the good work and hopefully your stress (and blood pressure) levels will fall after this council gets voted out.
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written by seriously??? , September 20, 2008
written by seriously??? , September 20, 2008
I too am a former Caledonia resident; although maybe I should be calling myself an appauled former Caledonia resident! I thought the council members were upstanding citizens of the community, which is how they've maintained their seats on the city council. I stand corrected! I'm appauled there would be ANY hesitation to pay a bill for protective equipment for any of the three emergency services that Caledonia offers regardless of the cost!! These men and women do a fine job, they're devoted, and they'd give their lives to save THESE council members...what thanks! I'd like to know how they're able to sleep at night knowing their decision could cost someone their life!! Please vote wisely in November...your life could depend on it!
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written by Brad , September 22, 2008
written by Brad , September 22, 2008
Gary you voted to conditionally pay for the glasses!!!!!!!!!!!
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written by amazed , September 22, 2008
written by amazed , September 22, 2008
mr klug why did you not except the water pump the men asked to donate to you? is it true you has made the statement "we should just get rid of the fire dept.?
ms. perry voted no ? why?
ms. perry voted no ? why?
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written by likes to read , September 22, 2008
written by likes to read , September 22, 2008
i noticed in the bills portion of the minutes, the council aproved a $250 bill for a air seat for a truck? there was zero discussion? was that a budgeted item?
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written by gary klug , September 22, 2008
written by gary klug , September 22, 2008
amazed i never said that statement, and brad yes it was conditional upon finding out what the procedure should be as far as i know this is the first time since the fire department has been active that this issue has come up...is he the only member that wears glasses.....what if the packs are to hard for some members to carry or maybe it hurts their back or knees when carring them. do we buy braces or special boots or a different item to help them. the fire department does a good job and i admire them, they are the best equipet dept. in the county and they take care and pride in the equipenmt we have entrusted them with, but as it is their job tofightfires it is ours to handle the budget. every peice of equipment that they use has costs associated with it every time it is used the possibility of something breaking is there and costs incured. we try to set and stick to a budget, this does not make it easier
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written by Brad , September 23, 2008
written by Brad , September 23, 2008
Gary I as far as I am and OSHA is concerned the procedure should be pay for the glasses. Being able to see is a lot different then having some pain from wearing an airpack. Most people can work through pain, it is very hard for people to work without being able to SEE. Next time you do a task take off your glasses and see how it goes. I have had knee surgery and my knee hurts after crawling around but that is part of the job. I can deal with having knee pain but it would be hard to deal with not being able to see. Most departments require new members to take the state certification class of Firefighter 1. This class is about 120 hours and having the ability to see when wearing your face piece is important. I am currently in the class in Wisconsin, which is very similar. Looks like OSHA requires employers to pay for employees Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The following is cut and pasted from www.osha.gov. Fed Register # 72:64341-64430.
OSHA proposed to require the employer to pay for all PPE required
by OSHA standards, with explicit exceptions for certain safety-toe
protective footwear and prescription safety eyewear. Safety-toe
protective footwear and prescription safety glasses were excepted from
the employer payment requirement, in large part because these items
were considered to be very personal in nature and were often worn off
the jobsite. The proposal would have allowed the exceptions if they met
the following conditions: (1) The employer permits such footwear or
eyewear to be worn off the jobsite; (2) the footwear or eyewear is not
used at work in a manner that renders it unsafe for use off the job-
site; and (3) such footwear or eyewear is not designed for special use
on the job. In addition, under the proposed revision, the employer
would not have to pay for logging boots required by 29 CFR
1910.266(d)(1)(v) (Id. at 15403).
The glasses would be exempt from payment if they were not designed for special use. These glasses are definitely special use.
Here is the link to the full standard Employer Payment for Personal Protective Equipment; Final Rule.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=20094
Brad
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OSHA proposed to require the employer to pay for all PPE required
by OSHA standards, with explicit exceptions for certain safety-toe
protective footwear and prescription safety eyewear. Safety-toe
protective footwear and prescription safety glasses were excepted from
the employer payment requirement, in large part because these items
were considered to be very personal in nature and were often worn off
the jobsite. The proposal would have allowed the exceptions if they met
the following conditions: (1) The employer permits such footwear or
eyewear to be worn off the jobsite; (2) the footwear or eyewear is not
used at work in a manner that renders it unsafe for use off the job-
site; and (3) such footwear or eyewear is not designed for special use
on the job. In addition, under the proposed revision, the employer
would not have to pay for logging boots required by 29 CFR
1910.266(d)(1)(v) (Id. at 15403).
The glasses would be exempt from payment if they were not designed for special use. These glasses are definitely special use.
Here is the link to the full standard Employer Payment for Personal Protective Equipment; Final Rule.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=20094
Brad
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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written by VOTE , September 23, 2008
written by VOTE , September 23, 2008
I like how Park and Rec can go thousands of dollars over budget, yet the fire department is thousands of dollars under budget. I didn't see any special attention given when Park and Rec wanted tens of thousands of dollars in new baseball bats, balls, etc., yet we can't provide an $84 dollar pair of glasses to a firefighter who would DIE without them? If this firefighter were to wear his regular eyeglasses with his air pack, he would suffocate and DIE...wow, those baseball bats look pretty important huh? Remember to vote in November...
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written by Matt Klug , September 24, 2008
written by Matt Klug , September 24, 2008
There is a public meeting between the city council and the Caledonia Fire Dept tonight (wed) @ 7 pm in the city hall basement. Come and listen and show your support! Thank you.
a month ago the members of our dept asked the city to accept the donation of a water pump $1100.00 payed for through the charitable gambling fund and through the non profit fundraising group , it was declined , this pump replaced a old pump that wore out many years ago, it would be used for drafting from creeks to support rural fires , it would be used for pumping water from buildings after a fire or in may be used during a flood situation, declined?
we recently were able to replace our 32 year old tanker through 50/50 rural and city funds, we negotiated about $14000.00 worth of extra equipment be "thrown in" , we also negotiated the rust repair of our 2000 tanker (about a $2000)value,under warranty, i "hitched" a ride from the caledonia haulers to pick up the repaired truck , saving mileage/fuel, funny how you don't read about those items in the news?
we built the skids for our gator ourselves ,had fundraisers,requested donations,scrounged up a nice used trailer, when is the last time you saw a municipal department do that?
the city tells us we are over budget but if you read it (after you removed the capital purchase of the tanker)as of july 31 we were about $50,000 under, pay the balance of the customery bills and we are on track to be $35,000.00 under, that after taking a budget cut of $10,000.00 !
our cheif does a very good job he has had to deal with repeated CITY officials not being very supportive and constantly questioning his decisions, he was the whipping boy when the paperwork was not handled properly for the fireworks and frankly he needs our whole town and rural support (we are a rural and city district)!ther have been many other issues also!
we have 33 very very trained knowledgeable members of the our dept that DONATE in excess of 2500 hours of training per year not to mention birthdays , anniversary's,etc. which get set asside to answer the call to help , this repeated questioning of our leadership is working on the morale of the dept. please step forward and support us before our members step back and say "its just to much"!
matt hoscheit ,
caledonia fire dept
acting on my own behalf