Prairie City council authorizes nearly $39,900 in wastewater repairs, approves equipment purchase and hires part-time officer in 3–1 vote

At its Feb. 11 meeting Prairie City’s council approved repairs at the wastewater plant totaling $39,861.04 plus shipping and electrical service costs, authorized a mower purchase and related seasonal postings, approved a $9,000 matching commitment for an EMS grant and voted 3–1 to hire a part-time police officer.

Council Member Joseph Disney moved to approve the wastewater-plant repairs; Pam St. John seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call. The repairs were authorized at $39,861.04 plus shipping and electrical service costs (minus tax) as recorded in the minutes.

The council also approved a mower quote for $6,200 from Prairie Ag (Derek Ingle motion; Joseph Disney seconded) and approved posting seasonal mower positions with no hourly rate posted, and posting summer recreation coordinator positions (motions carried on roll call votes as recorded).

Council Member Pam St. John moved to hire Todd Evans as a part-time police officer at a starting rate of $27 per hour; Derek Ingle seconded. The motion passed on a 3–1 roll call vote with Council Member Darrin Telfer casting the lone nay.

EMS Director Daniel Riemersma reported the EMS department handled eight calls in January, three of which were billable; he said one was a lift assist, one was a fire call and one was disregarded, and that no crew was available for three calls. The council approved a matching commitment of $9,000 for a Prairie Meadows grant application to purchase a power stair chair for EMS; Pam St. John moved and Derek Ingle seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

The meeting concluded with no future agenda items and an adjournment at 7:38 p.m. All motions and recorded votes are reflected in the council minutes.