The city council of Eagle Grove met at City Hall at the normal meeting time of 6:30 p.m. on Monday to go over a seven item agenda, not including the consent agenda or department reports.
One notable element upon entering the room was the new proliferation of microphones spread about the room. This apparently in an effort to improve the audio to go with the live video feed which the city has recently begun putting out. Watching and listening to the feed after the meeting it appeared that their efforts were mostly successful. Marking yet another step forward in the transparency of the council.
In the consent agenda the minutes from the last meeting on September 19th were ratified and claims were paid while a beer and liquor license for El Valle Tienda food cart was renewed.
The first item on the agenda was a resolution to modify the FLSA status for a certified officer in the Eagle Grove Police department from part-time to full-time. The change would allow the Eagle Grove Police Department to change the status of one part time officer to full time. And the officer they had in mind, noted Mayor McGrath, was an experienced officer. "It'll be very nice to have another seasoned officer," she pointed out.
Next the council moved on to the related resolution allowing the city to enter into a reimbursement agreement for Law Enforcement Training. City Administrator Bryce Davis explained the cost of just over $5,000 entailed in this, and the risk that the city would have to "eat" the expense in the unlikely event that the officer was terminated without just cause. But otherwise were nothing out of the ordinary when bringing in an officer who has received training from other departments. Essentially, Davis explained, the city would be buying out the officer's contract with his prior agency.
Next the city held a public hearing on vacating and conveying ownership of a swath of land the city makes no use of, and is adjacent to property owned by the landowners who have been maintaining the property. "Thank you for that," Davis joked. The hearing was continued with the next date being set for Monday, October 17th at 6:30 p.m.
Then the council moved on to paying some bills. First came a $12,056.05 change order in the 2021 street improvement project to Yohn Co. Next, a $7,491.70 pay application, also to Yohn. And finally, a pay application in the amount of $71,164.22 for the Downtown Facade Project, to Peterson Construction.
The real action of the meeting took place in the Department Reports. First, during the police report, Eagle Grove Chief of Police Ray Beltran made an introduction for officer Steve Cram. The introduction was largely unnecessary as Cram knew all the members of the council save Kelly Limerick, and had previously served with the Eagle Grove PD. Cram started with the EGPD as a part timer in 2013 and then went full time the following year. Then he'd attended the academy, before going to work for another agency. "He's back," noted Beltran, "I guess he liked us that much." Cram is a 9 year law enforcement veteran, who has made his home in Eagle Grove since the start of his career. The council welcomed him, and then he was sworn in by Mayor McGrath.
Next the Council heard from pharmacist Mickey Cooper, with an update on procedures. She revealed that she had been informed that an investigation into the handling of narcotics by the EMS crew had been conducted and completed, following the receipt of two emailed complaints of drug abuse at the EMS. According to Cooper, the investigation found those complaints to be unfounded. Next, Cooper described in some detail the rigorous methodology the EMS crew follows, along with the staff at the Eagle Pharmacy, to make it impossible for anyone to divert narcotics from the EMS supplies undetected. "Diversion is impossible," Cooper said, "unless they rob my pharmacy." Which Cooper said was due in large part to the fact that "they (EMS staff) can't order drugs. I'm the only one who can order drugs." Cooper also explained that "you guys were losing your shorts," before the system she and EMS Director Lashelle Burger had put into place began, which has resulted in significant cost savings and "triple locked" narcotics controls. "Sometimes it's easier to talk about it, and not know about it," Cooper said of the complainants, adding that they could have just come to talk to her, noting that she's generally "right downtown."
In his report, City Administrator Bryce Davis noted that the 2021 street improvement program was working through final "punchlist items' and should finish up in the next 30 days. And the 2022 streets project is also closing in on a finish date, Davis noted. Possibly on a similar timeline. Finally, Davis noted that Beggar's Night trick-or-treating would be from 4-5 at businesses (aka the Halloween Walk) and 5 – 7 for homes, on October 31st. After which the meeting adjourned.
