Fire Department news continued to dominate the agenda as Wykoff’s City Council held its first meeting of 2018 last week.
Wykoff Fire Chief Wade Baker was not in attendance at the January council meeting, however, firefighter Ernie Domasky shared an update of the recent Tri-County Firefighters meeting that he had attended. He told the council he had spoken with a legislative representative during that meeting about the state study in which Wykoff participated regarding firefighter recruitment and retention and from which each firefighter who took part received a $500 stipend. According to Domasky’s account, the state determined that the information gathered during the study did not improve firefighter recruitments, even if it improved firefighter retention.
Domasky also pointed out that he had broached the subject of the fire department ordinance contained within the Minnesota ordinance and code book, which the city is considering adopting, and inquired as to whether any other towns had adopted it for their departments. Presently, the fire department is governed by Ordinance 100, which is the framework of the department’s operation, and there are items in the code book and in Ordinance 100 that need to be included or changed to reflect Wykoff’s needs as a community. The Tri-County Firefighters will send him copies of ordinances from other towns that had chosen the ordinance book so that the Wykoff department can use it as a reference.
Domasky related that he feels that Wykoff has a chance to recruit and retain firefighters and therefore has hopes that the city and Fire Department can convene to discuss issues that have been brought up related to the ordinances and code book and come to an agreement, adding that his sentiment is that it is reasonable to ask the council to wait 90 days before adopting the Minnesota code book as a means of allowing everyone involved time to work on the new ordinance.
Mayor Al Williams’ report encompassed that the council is in the process of arranging a meeting between the rural fire board and Wykoff’s Fire Department to discuss changes in the fire department’s ordinances, constitution and bylaws that could accompany the adoption of the code book. Councilors will meet Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. to review the required steps taken before setting a public hearing for the adoption of the Minnesota code book.
Additionally, the council concluded that the Fire Department and rural fire board should be notified of the Wykoff First Responders’ request to purchase a retired ambulance from Spring Grove to replace the unit that has served Wykoff for well over 20 years. First responder Jon Eickhoff brought the request to the council during the December meeting, explaining that the First Responders, comprised of only four volunteers, are seeking more volunteers and that the group hoped that Spring Grove would reserve the retired vehicle while Wykoff works on financing.
In another matter, Councilor Richard Gleason related that while wastewater treatment plant operator Rick Whitney was unable to attend the meeting, numbers at the plant are in compliance.
Councilor Rocky Vreeman asked about the plant’s drying bins and whether a decision had been reached on how to remove waste, and Williams replied that the city is still researching other, less costly ways to remove it.
Gleason, Wykoff’s community education representative from the council, updated the rest of the council on activities that are scheduled to take place in the school district. He handed out copies of a contract that will be used to make arrangements for Kingsland’s community education to hold movie nights, then went on to note that the gymnasium will be open from 7 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday, when school is in session to allow those who wish to walk there to do so. He also noted there will be open gym time on Saturdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Sundays from 4 to 6 p.m. at a cost of $2 per person.
Volunteers are needed to oversee the opportunity. Individuals who volunteer will be required to pay for a criminal background check. If the program is successful, a supervisor may eventually be paid for time spent. Gleason is the first volunteer, and with his statement that he would be doing so, Williams added his name to the roster.
Councilor Mary Sackett updated the council on personnel issues, sharing that it had been brought to her attention that there are people in Wykoff who have voiced their criticism of city employees but not brought it forward to said employees – essentially fostering gossip. She remarked that she felt that if any people have a problem with a city employee, they should register their complaint at the city clerk’s office, after which it will be turned over for the personnel committee to handle. Councilors commented that the criticism is harsh enough to almost be considered harassment, and Sackett requested that a notice be included in the city’s monthly newsletter to remind citizens that there is a process that should be followed if a resident has a complaint.
Vreeman then inquired of Sackett as to whether the council is still planning to hire another part-time employee to help with plowing snow this winter. Williams stated that he felt that it isn’t necessary, given that this winter has so far been rather dry. The mayor added that city maintenance worker John Apenhorst has been instructed on what needs to be done to clear streets effectively and for safety purposes, but while residents may have differing opinions of what plowing should be carried out, it is the street crew’s decision when and where streets should be cleared.
In new business, Apenhorst wanted permission to purchase a sand spreader for the city pickup truck to spread sand in smaller areas or to increase efficiency when the city’s big truck and spreader aren’t needed. The council directed him to check with Thompson Motors and return with details in February.
Designations and assignments were approved, naming the city’s official depository as Security State Bank of Lewiston, Spring Valley and Wykoff — and mayor pro-tem Gleason to sign checks in the absence of the mayor or city clerk, that city clerk Becky Schmidt is authorized to make deposits and withdrawals from the city’s accounts at the bank, naming the Fillmore County Journal as the official newspaper, and choosing Dwight Luhmann to continue as the city’s attorney.
Committee assignments included Gleason and Williams for streets, snow removal and sanding and as police and fire commissioners, Gleason and Councilor Mary Tjepkes for sewer and water and parks and recreation, Williams and Sackett on the personnel committee and serving as joint trails board representatives, Apenhorst handling pest control, Williams overseeing weed control, Jason Hare managing incident command, Vreeman being posted as deputy incident commander, Robert Vogen as emergency management director and Gleason as zoning commissioner.