Monday, January 17th's meeting of the Eagle Grove city council was short and sweet, but covered a lot of ground. The meeting started with the pledge of allegiance and a prayer. The city then tackled the consent agenda in a single motion, approving the minutes of the January 3rd meeting, acknowledging the building permit report and renewing the beer and liquor license for the Smoke Shop.
The council then held the third and final reading of Ordinance 2021-08, which amends the city's code of ordinances as pertaining to adult entertainment businesses. As previously discussed in council discussions at prior meetings and prior readings, the amended code declassifies all cross dressing as adult entertainment by default, removing older language from the original model ordinances that some had deemed unintentionally insensitive to members of the LGBTQ+ community. While also affirming the city's zoning power and limitations on adult entertainment businesses. The reading was pro-forma and there were no objections.
The city then moved on to review and discuss the Rental Inspector Agreement for the open position the city is currently looking to fill. Councilman Lorenzen suggested adding language to ensure that the rental inspector contractor would not be able to cancel their insurance without the city being notified. City Administrator Bryce Davis agreed that was a sensible addition, and the council passed a motion to so amend the agreement before taking further action.
Then the city reviewed a final pay application for $11,900 on the Atchison project of the CDBG Housing Sustainability Program, at 219 N. 9th, and upon a motion to pay the application, unanimously agreed, passing the motion.
The council then heard the department reports, starting with the police report from Eagle Grove Chief of Police, Ray Beltran. In 2021, Beltran reported, the Eagle Grove police department had handled a total of 4,583 total calls, a significantly higher number than usual. And had done so during a period of high turnover and multiple officers getting sick during the COVID pandemic. For which he commended his officers and praised their teamwork and willingness to take on extra shifts as the situation demanded. Of the total calls, 4,430 went to Eagle Grove and 153 went to Goldfield, including 415 ambulance assistance calls in Eagle Grove, and 43 in Goldfield.
Beltran also reported that the police department had taken delivery of their new police truck. Unlike previous ploce trucks, this truck is not a retrofitted consumer vehicle but a purpose built police interceptor, and should be expected to perform admirably.
Beltran also reported that the police department had been able to purchase new defibrillators for the officer vehicles using grant funds, and would be distributing their older defibrillators to other city departments. Which could well be a life saving development at any time.
City Administrator Bryce Davis then delivered the public works report. The city's plans to make city council meetings more accessible for the media and the public by installing a webcam and television and setting up a zoom account, much like the Wright County Supervisors use, should soon come to fruition, Davis reported. Mayor Sandy McGrath asked about the worn and monotone carpeting in the council's meeting room, pointing out that the carpeting posed a tripping hazard and should be replaced, or at least have safety tape installed. Davis reported that the Wellness Center contract is complete, and now in the hands of the outside attorney, and the city will await further word.
Lastly Davis reported that the city was ready to move forward on the grant for the awnings for downtown businesses to be overseen by the Chamber of Commerce, and that it should be added to the agenda for the following week's meeting of the council.
Mayor McGrath then gave her weekly report, which centered on the COVID panemic. "Omichron is now kicking Delta right out the door," McGrath said, pointing out that the more infectious Omichron variant was now responsible for more than 7 out of 10 Wright County infections. McGrath raised the risk of secondary infections of multiple strains, where for example someone who had been previously infected with the Delta variant or original COVID, then becomes infected with Omichron. She was hoping not to see that as secondary infections within 90 days are unlikely. But she again encouraged the public to get vaccinated and boosted in order to reduce their risk of infection, and lessen the likelihood of a severe or life threatening infection. And to return to wearing masks, washing hands, and practicing social distancing, at least in line with the CDC's new guidelines.
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