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Grundy Center reviews police chief candidate, staffing plans and school resource officer arrangement
Summary
At an Aug. 5 work session, the Grundy Center City Council interviewed Interim Chief Natvig as part of a multi-candidate search for police chief, entered a closed session under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(i) to evaluate an individual, and discussed training, overtime projections and whether the city or school district will formalize a school resource officer role.
The Grundy Center City Council met in a work session on Aug. 5, 2024, and interviewed Interim Police Chief Natvig as part of its search for a permanent police chief, Mayor Eberline said. The council entered a closed session under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(i) to evaluate the professional competency of an individual who requested a closed session; the motion to enter the closed session was moved by Council member Smith and seconded by Council member Mcdonald and carried on four ayes.
The meeting opened with Mayor Eberline noting that seven candidates, including Interim Chief Natvig, had applied for the city’s chief position. Natvig told the council that the police department had received 10 applications for the vacant police officer position: two applicants had dropped out, two already completed testing, and two more were scheduled to take tests on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024.
Council members and Natvig discussed training and qualification needs. Mayor Eberline asked for a plan for firearms and shooting training; Interim Chief Natvig said the department conducts quarterly shooting training and that qualification standards are changing rapidly, which will require more frequent practice. Council member Lamp raised the school resource officer question with the school district; Council member Smith said the district technically did not have an SRO at the moment and that the city has been providing an officer on an as-needed basis. Smith said a future SRO position would require a formal agreement and associated costs, and that further meetings on the arrangement were expected.
The council also reviewed staffing and overtime. Mayor Eberline asked about reserve-officer shift requirements and other scheduling steps to reduce overtime. Interim Chief Natvig estimated overtime should fall to roughly eight hours every other week once all positions are filled and officers have completed certification, but he cautioned that reaching that point "may take some time." Council member Smith said only one applicant was currently willing or able to move into the city limits, and that requiring residency now would be difficult given availability and affordability of housing in Grundy Center. No formal policy changes or personnel appointments were made during the work session.
The meeting record shows motions to adjourn the closed session and reenter the work session at 6:15 p.m.; the transcript records motions and seconders and reports that each motion carried on four ayes. The council adjourned the work session at 6:20 p.m.; the next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.
