Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lamberton council approves pension bylaw changes, hires part‑time officer and accepts multiple resignations
Summary
At its Oct. 15 meeting the Lamberton City Council approved changes to Fire Relief Association by‑laws and raised the pension payout to $1,750 per year of service, hired a part‑time police officer, accepted several personnel resignations, and approved routine financial and membership actions.
LAMBERTON — The Lamberton City Council on Oct. 15 approved a series of routine actions affecting public safety, personnel and municipal administration.
Council approved by‑law language changes for the Fire Relief Association and raised the pension payout to $1,750 per year of service after a presentation from Nate Erickson showing proposed benefit levels and projected account balances. The motion to approve the by‑law changes and the pension increase passed with a 3‑0 vote (Knutson/Irlbeck) with Councilmember Pfarr recorded as abstaining and Councilmember Bittner absent at that moment.
The council also approved joining the Commercial Club at the Small Business Rate of $50 per year and voted to waive statutory municipal tort monetary limits to the extent of coverage provided by LMCIT.
Public safety personnel actions included a unanimous vote to hire Derick Determan as a part‑time police officer at Grade 5 Step 8 ($25.22/hour) following a background check and equipment ordering. The council accepted the resignation of Community Service Officer Kelly Birkemeyer and accepted resignations from two ambulance crew members, Marissa Brown Wahl and Amber Wolmutt. City staff told the council they are preparing a policy book to provide more structure for ambulance scheduling and roles.
Council discussed, and voted to keep, local authority over cannabis business registration rather than ceding that responsibility to Redwood County; members noted that city ordinances will be required to implement local registration.
Financial business included approval of the October 2024 financial report and claims. The council also approved routine departmental reports and administrative items, including an Administration/EDA report concerning a clinic’s request to remove three‑phase electrical service and related rent discussions.
The meeting concluded with council communications about grant funding (LRIP not funded this year), regional trail planning materials, and municipal membership dues. The council set its next meeting for Nov. 12, 2024, and adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Votes at a glance (motions recorded in the meeting minutes): - Fire Relief by‑law changes and pension increase to $1,750/year of service — mover: D. Knutson; seconder: D. Irlbeck; result: passed 3‑0 (Pfarr abstained; Bittner absent). - Commercial Club membership — mover: L. Pfarr; seconder: D. Irlbeck; result: passed 4‑0. - Waiver of municipal tort monetary limits (LMCIT coverage) — mover: D. Irlbeck; seconder: L. Pfarr; result: passed 4‑0. - Keep cannabis registration authority with the City of Lamberton — mover: L. Pfarr; seconder: D. Irlbeck; result: passed 4‑0. - Hire part‑time police officer (Derick Determan) — mover: L. Pfarr; seconder: D. Irlbeck; result: passed 5‑0. - Accept CSO resignation (Kelly Birkemeyer) — mover: D. Irlbeck; seconder: D. Knutson; result: passed 5‑0. - Accept ambulance resignations (Marissa Brown Wahl, Amber Wolmutt) — mover: D. Irlbeck; seconder: L. Bittner; result: passed 5‑0. - Approve Administration/EDA and maintenance reports — movers: Knutson/Bittner and Irlbeck/Knutson; results: passed 5‑0. - Financial report and claims approval — mover: L. Bittner; seconder: L. Pfarr; result: passed 5‑0.
The minutes indicate routine administrative handling of most items and a handful of personnel and service changes requiring further staff follow‑up.
Ending: The council adjourned and scheduled its next regular meeting for Nov. 12, 2024.
