Meeting was called to order by Mayor Keith Emerson at 4:30 PM.

Pledge of Allegiance was spoken

Present: Kip Emerson, Bruce Pederson, Chad Gulbranson, Jerry Olson, Randy Anderson

Others in attendance: Angela Jacobson, Lynnette Swenstad, Ron Kleinschmidt, Mark Gilson, Bonnie Schultz, Dale (Leslie Twsp.), Ralph Laven, Newmann Olson, Phil Reed, Lyla Engfer, Gretta Petrich, Roger Larson, Stella Bender, Tim Nielsen, Sharon Fredrickson

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the possibility of moving the city hall officers to the information center building.

Mayor Emerson turned the conversation to the floor to hear comments.

Lyla spoke on behalf of the Heritage Center. Moving the City Clerks to the information center and moving the heritage center up to city hall would not work, want to stay at heritage center.

Bonnie spoke stating she had checked into the having a SEP person to work 40 hours per week but would need supervision. It is a 1 year program and you don’t need to hire that person after that year. The age is up to age 24. If the Information center were to hire someone they would work 20 -25 hours per week. This person would not be an employee of the city. It was mentioned there was also a green thumb program for older individual to get jobs.

Chief Gilson stated that moving the clerks would interrupt the police operation because we work together on our day to day operation we share office space, electronics, radio, phone, the office being open is a receptionist to the police department we must stay together to provide our services, this has been done even though the city has grow because of our shared resources and that keeps the cost down.

After comments from the public each council member gave their option on the situation.

Randy Anderson – We should give it time, have a person in the visitor center and keep track of what the center is used most for and how much time is spent on each thing. Cannot split the workings of the city and police and would we have room down there for all?

Bruce Pederson – Moving would solve the short term problem and keep the visitor center open for years to come. If at this time I have to vote it up or down I would vote to move the clerk’s down there.

Kip Emerson – Interested in keeping the Visitor Center open, nice building for the clerks to move into and they should move down there, this has come up before. It would be best to move the Clerk and Deputy and leave the police and maintenance here.

Chad Gulbranson – Concern of the unity of the clerks and police and keeping the workings together open. In favor of moving he heritage center, but may be able to stay if we do some creative storage, or someone will have to come out. City hall and police would have to have secure offices.

Jerry Olson – Would like to see the heritage center stay open. Don’t want to see the clerk’s and police split at all. This is going too fast to make a decision; there is not enough space for all people. Like to go with plan B, would like to cut pull tab rent to help with plan B, Don’t like change this fast it will cost the city in the end.

Mayor Emerson asked Chief Gilson what they do with the other 11 hours when the clerks are not in the office. Hi traffic is during the day when people come out to handle a variety of things, and for customer service. The office services as their receptionist and contact with the public while they are out doing their job.

Plan B for the Visitor Center would be a part time person for the summer from May to September. Bonnie stated the $1,475 to be paid to West Central could go to offset the expense for the city to move.

Would like to make sure we are having everything looked at before we make a move there and then have to move back again, we need time to gather information.

Council member Pederson stated that he came to the meeting ready to vote to move the clerk and deputy clerk to visitor center. The move is not as simple as you would like to see it; enough questions have been raised that the visitor needs to try plan B and the city look at the cost and space before making the move.

The council and staff should set up a meeting to take time to look at the center to see if it will work for what we need.

Motion by Pederson seconded by Olson to keep the clerks and police at the present location and give us an opportunity through the summer and next 6 months to evaluation the location and look at a total move of the clerks and police maybe in the fall or spring, all ayes.

Groups will have to look at Plan B to keep the center open for the summer.

Council thanked all for coming and giving their input.

Motion by Anderson seconded by Olson to adjourn at 5:45pm, all ayes.

_____________________________

Keith E. Emerson –Mayor

_____________________________

Angela A. Jacobson – City Clerk