On the agenda for the city council meeting for July 18th was a consent agenda which included a building permit to construct a 20×28 building at 520 N. Washington, for Alberto Colorado. As well as the approval of the previous meeting’s minutes as usual.
The council then reviewed and approved change orders to the downtown facade improvement project, resolutions 80 and 82 for the year, both passing unanimously. Resolution 2022-80 adjusted the contract with Peterson Construction of Webster city to add $4,795.35 to cover the costs of fuel and lodging for the mason working on the project. Resolution 2022-82 further amended the contract with Peterson Construction to add $5,511.40, due to additional necessary repairs discovered after work began. Bringing the total contract cost to $681,103.00.
From there the council tackled an Amendment to the Development Agreements with Torkelson Properties for the projects at 106 N. Lucas and 204 W. Broadway. Both adjustments merely clarify the source of the funds loaned to Torkelson for the projects, as both the CARES act, and Iowa Community Development Block Grant Program Coronavirus Response Grants, and that rules relating to those funds will be followed. No additional funds were involved.
In the next item of business, the council reviewed and took action on a change order from Wicks Construction, Inc.to cover work, primarily city plumbing alterations, performed that was outside the scope of the project bid. The change order increases the total cost by $13,705.26 to a total of $2,168,588.16.
The city then took action on Resolution 83 for the year, adjusting the wages of some city employees who, Mayor McGrath explained, had earned raises by meeting predetermined criteria.
From there the city established a hiring committee to seek a new Finance Officer due to the upcoming retirement of current Finance Officer Susan Maier. Although Maier’s retirement is not imminent, the city nonetheless wants to hire and train a replacement as soon as possible, to ensure a “seamless transition”, as Mayor McGrath put it, when Maier does retire. Council members Michael Weland, Kelly Limerick, and Matt Jergens volunteered and were appointed.
Then the council took up creating another hiring committee, this time for a Rental Inspector position. Council members Al Pamperin, Wally Lorenzen, and Kelly Limerick were appointed, with Pamperin being appointed in absentia.
The council then reviewed resolution 2022-84, to approve a Transport Decision Policy for the Emergency Medical Services Department. However, the council then heard from EMS Director Lashelle Burger (the Mayor’s daughter) who explained that while the EMS team’s latest review had found a deficiency in the city’s former policy, Director Burger had already resolved the matter, and gotten a new policy approved. So it was determined it was not necessary to take further action, and Burger was thanked for her efforts.
Then the council was to review and take action on the hiring of two part time Emergency Medical Technicians for the EMS team. And that’s when the fuse to the fireworks was lit.
After stating that she will be picking up shifts as an EMT personally, and without being paid, to try and address the shortage of EMTs and volunteers, the Mayor turned to a touchy subject.
“I’m very, very disappointed in the ugliness that has occurred, from an ad to ask for help,” said Mayor McGrath, referring to a post made to the “Eagle Grove Betterment Committee” group on Facebook by Laura Dicke, one of the leaders of the group, calling into question EMS Director Burger’s earnings. Dicke’s post to her group had followed a post made to Facebook by City Secretary Aceli Day, seeking more EMT volunteers and applicants. Which also followed a public notice the city published in the Eagle newspaper detailing the earnings of city employees.
McGrath is also the Wright County Director of Public Health, and has been an EMT. Burger is her daughter.
“That was a simple ad, to ask for help, and it turned into a bear attack,” the Mayor said. “That’s the second person in this city who has been totally attacked, personally. And I am totally ashamed to have anything to do with something like that coming out of Eagle Grove.”
“Arceli I appreciate you putting that on Facebook,” Mayor McGrath said. Then McGrath turned to Dicke, who was present and live-streaming to Facebook as she typically does. “I’d appreciate it if you’d change your website name, rather than ‘betterment’ to truly what it is, because it is attacks.”
“What do you suggest,” Dicke responded.
“Well, it’s not transparency when you plant seeds,” the Mayor chastised, “and you water them very well, to make sure that seed of doubt is planted, and then create the havoc. That’s not transparency and that’s not betterment. Betterment is walking up and saying ‘I want to be an EMT’. Betterment is saying, ‘thank you for giving up a lot of your time’.”
McGrath and Dicke traded remarks. With Dicke suggesting that “many people” had questioned Burger’s wages, specifically, following the publication of the notice in the Eagle. “All I did was post a picture highlighting your name,” Dicke added.
Burger asked why Dicke didn’t ask her questions about her earnings in her facebook post, instead of just making a blank post that insinuated wrongdoing.
“You planted the seed,” the Mayor said
“I went and got my information,” Dicke interjected.
The Mayor pressed Dicke on that point. “You have to admit you did that. No explanation, you know where to find the answer. You came and asked Susan (Maier) about it, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” Dicke replied, “and I just got my paperwork today, so I’ll look through it.” Dicke also said, “many people were sending it and questioning it. They wanted to know why she gets paid so much. And also no one knew she was the Director.”
Burger’s job title is public information. According to the Mayor, Burger’s earnings of $62,751.40 (as reported in the public notice) includes her base salary of $39,000.00, plus her insurance, and crucially, her overtime. EMS workers routinely put in a great deal of overtime, but given the short-staffed reality at present, Burger has been putting in extremely high overtime, which the Mayor said city documents anyone can request will prove, as Dicke stated she had done.
“Maybe your website could be better, because you do know you’re promoting nastiness,”McGrath said.
Dicke countered that those in public office have to answer questions. To which the mayor replied “well, we don’t have to have personal attacks on people.”
Councilman Matt Jergens suggested Dicke “wouldn’t last a minute being subjected to that crap” if she were to run for office. To which Dicke asked “so, are you threatening me?” Jergens merely shook his head.
The Mayor then pushed Dicke on the Betterment Group’s privacy settings, which require an invitation to join, saying that’s”not transparency”, it’s “despicable”.
“I think everyone agrees we all appreciate EMT’s in our service, and we appreciate Lashelle,” Dicke said, “We just weren’t… completely transparent on how she got the position and why there’s a lack of volunteers.”
“Then the last thing I’m going to say is you know where to get the answers. That would be here at City Hall.”
“I just got it,” Dicke protested, “today. So yes. Thank you for clarifying also. But, we can ask questions, and we have a right to.”
“One of the reasons,” added the Mayor, addressing the question of why it was hard to find EMT volunteers, “because of all of the overtime, and burning these, these individuals out, we need people. We need help. We need to fill some hours that obviously when people have other jobs, they can’t.”
After a motion from Councilman Whelan to approve the hiring of the part time EMT’s, the discussion ended and the council voted unanimously to approve the positions.
From there the council moved on to the last item on its agenda, filling the vacancy for Ward 3’s council seat, vacated when Chase Quintus moved out of town. City Administrator Bryce Davis pointed out that a special election would cost about $1,000, or a temporary councilman could be appointed. A former Councilman, Danny Vandewater, who had volunteered to fill the position, was appointed.
After a brief discussion on the public works from Davis, the meeting the adjourned.
Corrections: An earlier version of this story misspelled Ms. Dicke’s last name, and portions have been slightly edited for clarity.
