Thief River Falls council authorizes police hiring notice, promotion and $30,000 vehicle; approves adopt‑a‑garden and higher insurance limit

The Thief River Falls City Council on a series of unanimous procedural votes authorized the city to advertise to fill a 17th police officer position, approved an internal promotion to sergeant, approved purchasing and upfitting a $30,000 vehicle for an investigator, established an adopt‑a‑garden volunteer program and authorized staff to pursue increasing its excess liability insurance to $2 million.

Chief Adam asked the council to allow the city to post the vacancy for what he described as the city's seventeenth officer and said the department is trying to recruit candidates as they finish school. “We'd like to get on it as soon as we can,” Chief Adam said, and noted hires would not occur until September. The council authorized advertising the position after a motion from Councilwoman Arled and a second from Councilman Preem.

On personnel, Chief Adam told the council that Sergeant Chuck Lindgren has retired and that the department conducted an internal posting; he recommended promoting Patrol Officer Jamieson Steer to sergeant. The council approved the promotion by motion.

To maintain investigator capacity when a task‑force vehicle contract ends in 2027, the council approved buying a 2021 Chevy Traverse and upfitting it for investigator use for a total of $30,000. Chief Adam said the purchase would be funded with about $20,000 from public safety funds and $10,000 from the DBI fund; the motion to approve passed.

The council also approved a staff‑proposed Adopt‑a‑Garden program designed to pair volunteer groups, families, nonprofit organizations and local businesses with specific municipal flower beds. City staff member Travis said the city would provide plants to groups using a planting plan, arrange a planting day, and continue watering as part of routine operations while volunteers handle planting and weekly maintenance. Travis said the program would include a recognition sign within program guidelines. Council members asked whether the city would sometimes hire contractors and how signage and maintenance expectations would be enforced; staff said the city could resume maintenance if an adopted garden were neglected. The council voted to establish the program to promote civic pride and support seasonal maintenance.

On risk management, the council authorized the city administrator to work with North Risk Partners to increase the city’s excess liability limit through the League of Minnesota Cities insurance program from $1 million to $2 million. Mark Tooney of North Risk Partners explained the move and cited a net additional premium of about $7,027 after reductions; he said raising to $2 million was common practice among peer cities.

Votes at a glance • Approve agenda — Motion by Councilman Preem; second by Councilwoman McCraw; outcome: approved. • Consent agenda — Motion by Councilwoman McCraw; second by Councilman Nowrude; outcome: approved. • Authorize advertisement to fill 17th police officer — Motion by Councilwoman Arled; second by Councilman Preem; outcome: approved. • Promote Patrol Officer Jamieson Steer to sergeant — Motion by Councilwoman Bridal; second by Councilwoman Langness; outcome: approved. • Purchase and upfit 2021 Chevy Traverse for investigator — Motion by Councilman Langness; second by Councilwoman Arlt; amount: $30,000 ($20,000 public safety funds; $10,000 DBI fund); outcome: approved. • Establish Adopt‑a‑Garden program — Motion by Councilwoman McCraw; second by Councilman Preem; outcome: approved. • Increase excess liability insurance to $2,000,000 (League of Minnesota Cities program) — Motion by Councilman Arstead; second by Councilman Nauru; additional premium approximately $7,027; outcome: approved.

The mayor closed the meeting and noted upcoming meetings including a joint city/county/school board meeting and the next council meeting in April. The council adjourned without further public comment.