The Nisswa City Council on Wednesday, April 20, promoted police officer Brandon Rothwell to sergeant effective April 21, with a pay adjustment of 5 percent to $23.87 per hour.
Rothwell has been an officer in Nisswa since January 2002.
The council also approved on a 4-1 vote a proposal for engineering services for a wastewater treatment facility plan from Widseth Smith Nolting engineering firm not to exceed $23,750. Council member Fred Heidmann was opposed, saying it would be advantageous to get a bid from more than one firm.
"How do we know this is a fair price without having anything to compare it to?" he asked. "Without anything to compare it to, how do we make an intelligent, respectful decision for the citizens of Nisswa?"
Council member Don Jacobson said it would be an advantage to use the firm that has been working on this project.
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City engineer Mark Hallan with Widseth Smith Nolting said the facilities plan will explain where existing facilities are at and how they will be maintained, as well as other options for alternative treatment systems. The plan will list cost estimates for options.
The city is studying the possibilities of expanding its wastewater treatment facilities to accommodate increasing sanitary sewer flows and future development.
In other business April 20, the council:
• Learned from Shawn Hansen of the Nisswa Chamber of Commerce that the city will receive a bike fix-it station and cell phone charging station mid-summer, courtesy of a grant. The Greater Lakes Association of Realtors chose Nisswa to receive these items, which Hansen said would be located somewhere near the chamber welcome center. Hansen said these two items would be a $13,000 asset to the city.
• Was warned by Mayor Harold Kraus about the possibility of violating the open meeting law through email.
"We've had way too much emailing among council members and I suggest very strongly that you don't do that anymore," Kraus said, noting council members should call each other or ask for a special meeting to address an issue.
• Approved the 2015 audit.
• Proclaimed May 6 and 7 as Poppy Days for the Nisswa American Legion Auxiliary to celebrate its annual poppy salute to veterans.
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• Approved Spirits of Nisswa municipal liquor store to buy a refurbished freezer and new countertops.
• Agreed to apply for the National Joint Powers Alliance Innovative Funding for Nisswa Lake Park.
• Amended ordinances regarding non-conforming structures, accessory structures and temporary commercial structures.
• Heard there will be a community build starting at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, at Nisswa Park for the installation of new Americans with Disabilities Act compliant playground equipment.
• Agreed to establish a road and bridge committee to upgrade the 2010 road study with a three-, five and eight-year plan for street construction, have PFM put together a financial plan for the roads, look at what the city can do for Clark Lake and Edna Lake roads with the Highway 371 changes, and look at establishing an assessment policy for streets.
