Tower City Council considers different schedule of office hours
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016 — Deputy Clerk Stephanie Carlson has been working three ten-hour days, Mondays through Wednesdays and seven hours on Thursdays, fulfilling her duties as Tower’s Deputy Clerk. This current schedule has been in place over the past few months on a trial basis to see what office hour configuration best suits the needs of efficiently handling city business for both the deputy clerk and City Clerk Linda Keith. The Tower City Council revisited the schedule at its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, April 11. Clerk Keith reported to the council that, “there have been good days and bad days,” explaining that when things get busy, and when there are a lot of people coming to city hall on Fridays, it is very difficult for her to complete her work when she is in the office alone.
Clerk Keith suggested that the city council consider a suggestion, made at a previous meeting by Matt Tuchel, to close the clerk’s office window at 1 p.m. on Fridays, affording her an uninterrupted four hours to complete her tasks.
Deputy Clerk Carlson told the council that she really appreciated the four day work week, and that it really helped her in her family life and obligations.
Following much discussion, Alderman Joan Broten said, “a public meeting might not be the proper place where we discuss employee relations.” The council concurred with Alderman Broten’s suggestion and decided unanimously to send the matter to the city’s employee relations committee, to further discuss office staffing issues.
The concrete steps to Tower’s City Hall are crumbling and are a concern for safety. Clerk Keith reported that there have been complaints about the steps’ current condition and asked the council for its opinion on what the city should do in repairing the defects, or replacing the steps. Mayor Josh Carlson said that he would work with the maintenance department personnel in developing specs for the project. The council approved advertising for competitive bids, once specifications for the repair project were completed.
Past and current practice has had the Zoning Administrator sit as a voting member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, however Clerk Keith informed the city council that this was not in compliance with the city’s ordinance. Clerk Keith submitted her resignation, suggesting that the city council comply with the ordinance and seek a new member for the commission. Clerk Keith’s resignation was unanimously accepted by the board, and Mayor Carlson said that he would soon make an appointment for her replacement.
The city has a surplus $40,000 following an audit of its books, and Mayor Carlson asked the city council how it wanted to handle the monies. The mayor said that the city had a current debt load of $177,000 for the North Second and North Third Street repairs and $100,000 debt load on Main Street repairs, suggesting that the city council approve paying $20,000 on each project.
Alderman Broten said that the council might reduce each project’s debt by $10,000 and keep the remaining $20,000 in reserve. “It’s early in the year,” Alderman Broten said, “Hoodoo Point or other projects might need money.” Mayor Carlson objected to the idea of holding money in reserve. “The auditor likes to see us reduce loans,” Mayor Carlson said.
Alderman Brad Matich made a motion, with Alderman William Hiltunen supporting, to reduce the debt load of the North Second and North Third street projects by $20,000 and the Main Street project debt load by $20,000. The motion passed with all supporting it except Alderman Broten who voted against.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) sought the recommendation of the Tower City Council on an upcoming muzzle loader rifle and archery special deer hunt to be conducted on city lands. Clerk Keith told the council that the DNR recommended a five bag limit, for each hunter, noting that the increased bag limit would serve to entice more hunters to participate. The city council however, feels that a five bag limit is too large. The council made its approval for a three bag limit and keeping the hunt’s geographic boundaries the same as previously determined.
Turning its attention to the traditional Tower Fourth of July celebration the city council gave its approval in seeking a permit from the Minnesota Department of Transportation to close Highway 169 for four hours, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. for the Fourth of July parade. The council also gave unanimous approval to the Fire Department Relief Association to hold its fund raising beer garden throughout the Fourth of July celebrations. The appropriate liquor license was approved.
Following the recommendations of the maintenance department the city will again hire Matt Skubic as summer help for the department.
In other actions, the Tower City council:
• Accepted the resignation of Mary Worringer from the Tower Ambulance service
• Approved Clerk Keith’s seeking a potential $350,000 grant to be used in the construction of a new boat ramp on the East Two River, north of Highway 169 at the same location as the previous ramp
• Noted that Steve Burgess was hired as the new Fire Chief for the joint Tower-Breitung Fire Department
• Accepted a donation of $2,000 for the Tower Ambulance Service from the Bois Forte Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribal Council and a $7,500 donation for the Tower-Breitung Fire Department.
• Approved a resolution supporting the Lake Vermilion area bike trail project attempting to create a bike trail between the City of Cook and the City of Tower
• Authorized Alderman Matich to work with Clerk Keith in seeking candidates to fill the position of the city’s Emergency Management Director
• Noted that correspondence had been received from the Prospector’s Trail Alliance promoting an informational meeting, for a proposed regional ATV (all terrain vehicle) trail, scheduled to be held on April 19 at the Tower Civic Center.
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at its regularly scheduled