Warroad council authorizes new police vehicle and approves exploring sergeant position

The Warroad City Council voted unanimously Feb. 23 to authorize the purchase of a new police vehicle and to proceed with exploring a sergeant position for the police department.

Chief Wade Steinbring presented the vehicle request and a draft job description for a sergeant position that the Public Safety Commission has approved. Councilor Dean Dorholt moved to authorize the vehicle purchase at the presented price of $42,213 and to proceed with associated interior equipment estimated at about $21,000; Councilor Michele Vandal seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The council also approved a motion by Dorholt, seconded by Vandal, to move forward with drafting a sergeant job description and conducting wage research for future consideration.

The motions did not specify funding sources for the vehicle or a hiring timeline; Chief Steinbring requested authorization to finalize the job description and wage analysis so the position could be considered at a future meeting. The council also approved a new squad logo later in the meeting; City Administrator Kathy Lovelace presented the design and Councilor Vandal moved its approval, which carried unanimously.

Council members present at the vote were Mayor Tom Goldsmith and Councilors Kevin Thompson, Dean Dorholt, Joe Olafson and Michele Vandal. The council provided no additional procedural direction in the minutes on when final hiring decisions or purchases will occur.