1988-12-06 CC SpecialSPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
DECEMBER 6, 1988
A Especial meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor
Loretta Roden. Members present included Gary Schwenzfeier, Donatus Vetsch,
-arid Bob Braun. Others present included Maureen Andrews, Ken Lindsay and
David Vetsch.
The purose of the meeting was to discuss the problem of someone
tampering with the snow plow and the basic relationship between the
Maintenance and Eire Departments.
The Council was informed that it had come to Ken Lindsay `s attention
that someone had been tampering with the snow plow lately; the first
instance was that the chains on the sanding equipment had been readjusted
which could have resulted in the misapplication of salt on the streets. The
:second instance occurred when someone pulled the coil wire off the truck
which resulted in the battery being worn down when Ken and Mike tried to
^.art the vehicle on Tuesday morning.
There is no indication who might have been involved with either of
these events, but it is the Council"s opinions that in any case these
activities are not appropriate behavior for adults, and cannot be viewed as
bein@; funny. There was some discussion regarding whether or not the City
shoi_ild offer an award to see if anyone would come forward regarding the
tampering of vehicles.
The Council stated that if someone is found to be tampering with
vehicles or vandalizing an other equipment that it woul� call for
immediate dismissal from the ire Department.
There was some discussion regarding the lack of space in the
b+.tilding and what could be done to elevate some of the problem. The issue
of the installation of the new wall was brought up. It was pointed out that
it was installed3 feet bigger than originally agreed upon by David Vetsch
and Ken Lindsay.
David pointed out that it was his understanding that Ken had approved
the. change in size, but pointed out that he was riot here when the three
firemen (KE:vi.n Lidberg, Bob Wacker and Paul Heinen) installed the wall.
Ken stated that he had been out snowpplowing and had stopped in while the
group was working on the wall but that tie had not agreed to installation of
the bigger area. He stated that it had been agreed that he would be back
to help and that by the time he got back the work was completed and the
wall was installed.
Donatus suggested that maybe the Council should call in the three
firemen to get their Fide of the story so that the problem can be resolved
(,-,nce and for all. After some additional discussion, David said that the
department would come back in and move the wall back to where it was
originally agreed upon.
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There was also some discussion about the fact that what ever is done
to resolve the storage problem now that it will only be a temporary
solution because the City is quickly growing out of it space and that
something will have to be done to resolve the problem once and for all. It
was su gested that instead of moving the wall flack the three feet that the
snow plow be moved out to the Wastewater Treatment Facility for the winter
and that the pontoon be moved into storage for the winter months.
feasJyTTrr►ere was sofie discussion about , whether o at it w�jit even be
e- t�_ move tie equipment around. hen was asker5 i the building had a
floor drain installed so that the snow melt would not sit on the floor. Ken
said that there was a drain floor but that it drained directly into the
ponds and that the salt run off would not have time to dissolve before
going into the system.
Ken stated that he did not think it was fair that his department was
being inconvenienced because of something that the fire department did.
Donatus stated that he felt that the Council should be deciding how this
problem should be resolved and if that meant expandi.nq the park shelter
storage that Ken would have to work along with the Council because at this
time the City does not have the money available to undertake major building
projects.
Getting back to the tampering of vehicles there was some additional
discussion regarding whether or not a letter should be sent to each of the
firemen regarding tie incident, but in the end it was agreed that it would
be better if David mentioned the matter at the next meetinand stress to
g
each of the members that this type of activity would not e tolerated by
C i t y .
David asked the Council what could be done about members that are not
willing to pull their weight in the department. It was pointed out that the
Firemen s By laws lay out disciplinary action
reregarding firemen pperformar►ce
and attendance. It was suggested that it might be advantages to set up a
committee made up of representatives of the department and the Council to
review the matter and take the necessary action so that the burden is not
solely the fire chiefs responsibility.
There was no other discussion, so it was areed that the fire
department would move the wall and that David would talk to the department
regarding the matter. This issue will be brought up again at a regular
meeting of the Council for further discussion
Since there was no other business a motion was made to adjourn the
meeting. The motion was made by Bob Braun and seconded by Gary
Schwenzfeier. All were in favor and the motion carried.