City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS CONTINUED COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 01-09-09 The City Council of Pelican Rapids met in continued session at 8:00 a.m., on Friday, 01- 09-09, in Council Chambers, City Hall. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members Ben Woessner, David Gottenborg and John E. Waller, III were present. Council Member Richard Peterson was absent. Administrator Don Solga, Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Council Member Elect Kevin Ballard and Kelley Gorman of the Pelican Rapids Press were also present. Mayor Runningen called continued meeting to order for the purpose of considering Employee Salaries and 2009 Police Union Contract. Mayor Runningen said that he, Mayor Elect Woessner and Administrator Don Solga met with the police union twice. Administrator Don Solga reported that the City offered and the Police Union voted to accept a 2% wage increase on a one year contract, an increase to employer’s share of insurance of $25 per month, increasing night differential hours to run from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., and increasing the night differential hourly rate by .20 per hour. Night differential rate only applies to scheduled hours and excludes meetings and trainings, etc. Contract also increased the investigator pay by $45 per month. The money is in the 2009 budget. “We’re concerned that the next couple of years will be tough due to Local Government Aid unallotments by the State of Minnesota and we wanted to give employees something this year,” said Administrator Solga. Council Member Gottenborg said he feels it is important to do what we can for people and postpone capital expenses. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to approve the 2009 Police Contract. Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Runningen said usually the City addresses the rest of the employees after the union contract is settled. “I recommend we do the same for the rest of the employees this year because we do not know what next year will bring,” said Council Member Gottenborg. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to approve 2% wage increase to City employees and increase the employer’s share of the medical insurance by $25 per month. Motion passed unanimously. “Council to me has served as a good training ground,” commented Council Member Gottenborg. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 a.m. Glenys Ehlert, Clerk-Treasurer